Newsroom
Veterinary professionals from both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities have begun a new phase of collaboration aimed at addressing animal health concerns across the island. Their first joint meeting took place on Wednesday at the Home for Cooperation in the Nicosia buffer zone, signaling a coordinated effort to confront foot-and-mouth disease and other shared challenges.
Demetris Epaminondas, head of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, explained that one of their next steps will be to request a meeting with the two community leaders to discuss how cooperation can be strengthened in tackling the disease. He emphasized that controlling and eventually eliminating foot-and-mouth disease will require a unified strategy applied consistently on both sides.
Beyond this immediate concern, the initiative is expected to expand to include a wider range of animal health and public health issues. Epaminondas noted that while some collaboration already exists between veterinarians from the two communities, it is not yet sufficient, stressing that effective disease control depends on aligned measures and ongoing coordination.
Representing Turkish Cypriot veterinarians, Birdal Cihangir described the meeting as constructive and encouraging. He said that a shared recognition that matters of health, whether human or animal, should be approached as technical issues, making cooperation both logical and necessary.
Cihangir added that the structure of their partnership will be developed jointly, with optimism that it will lead to meaningful and practical outcomes. He also pointed out that animal diseases and hygiene affect the entire population, reinforcing the importance of working together. While regular meetings are planned, both sides agreed that communication will become more frequent whenever urgent situations arise, such as the current concerns over foot-and-mouth disease.
