Fico: We Won't Leave Farmers High and Dry, Compensations Imminent

Bratislava, March 23 (TASR) - The Government won't leave farmers, due to lose their animals to the contagion of the foot-and-mouth disease, high and dry, as compensations for them are being sought at both domestic and European levels, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) declared after a session of the crisis team at the Agriculture Ministry on Sunday. Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) added that compensations will be extended also to small-scale breeders. "I'm announcing this publicly, in an official capacity. The Slovak Government, despite the difficult financial situation this country finds itself in, won't leave farmers high and dry," stated Fico, who declared his willingness to hold talks with top representatives of the European Commission in this context. In the meantime, Takac plans to travel to Brussels for talks on Monday (March 24). Fico invited representatives of the affected farms and food producers to the Government Office on Tuesday (March 25). "I'll make another joint public announcement to guarantee that the state will take action because national interests are at stake," he said. mf