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It is a great honour for me to take over the portfolio of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment today. I would like to thank the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides from the bottom of my heart for the honour and trust, and at the same time assure him that I assume my duties with full awareness of the responsibility that this position entails.
I take over from Petros Xenophontos, a man who has carried out important work in the Ministry which we will continue. My friend Petros, I would be remiss if I did not thank you personally for the excellent cooperation we had in my capacity as Environment Commissioner.
I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to First Lady Filippa Karsera Christodoulides for her continued support for the joint initiatives we undertook as the Office of the Environment Commissioner. Together we have started the effort to transform the Presidential Palace and the buildings of the Ministries/ Deputy Ministries into zero waste "Zero Waste to Landfill" sites, and of course we continue this effort with the same enthusiasm.
The contribution of the primary sector to GDP is disproportionate to its importance, but also to the potential it can gain through the use of technology and applied agricultural research and the exploitation of the results of innovations. That is why strengthening our country's primary sector, investing in the quality and tradition of Cypriot agricultural products and protecting the environment are priorities in my governance programme for which I will work with zeal, responsibility, methodicalness and determination. The dynamic chain centred on people, farmers, farmers, producers and consumers must ensure respect for the environment, a fair income for farmers and high quality and safe food at affordable prices for consumers.
Therefore, halloumi as a protected designation of origin, the protection and sustainable management of Akamas, proper waste management and animal welfare are, of course, among my immediate priorities. Priorities that, together with the development of the circular economy, sustainable forest and biodiversity management, fire prevention, tackling climate change and mitigating its effects, are areas on which I will work tirelessly and with dedication to achieve positive results.
I know that in this demanding work I will have the support and companionship of each and every one of you, the staff of the Ministry and the Departments with whom we will work as a team. Your valuable knowledge, experience and daily work are the guarantees for a good and productive cooperation at all levels, which will ensure the realisation of the objectives and the governance programme we have to carry out.
I have here with me the representatives of the farmers' organisations with whom I am sure we will have a good cooperation. I am addressing the hard-working people of the land, the environmentalists, the people who have dedicated their lives to protecting our land from all kinds of pollution, the producers, the people who have raised us with the milk and wheat that they have sweated to produce. I am addressing the people of our Cyprus. I call on each and every one of you to work together for agriculture, rural development and the protection of the environment. Good job.
(BG)
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