SDSM MP and former Minister of Agriculture, Ljupco Nikollovski, reacted to the interview of Minister Cvetan Tripunovski, who, although he admitted that the IPARD program had been suspended, neither took responsibility nor offered a solution, the SDSM statement said.
"Minister Tripunovski, visibly nervous, went on television and instead of offering a solution, he himself confirmed that IPARD had been suspended, without saying how much damage had been caused, without saying how long the investigation into the corruption and crime of his closest associates, one of whom was his special advisor, would take," Nikollovski said.
He warned that 130 million euros in European funds are at risk, money that was supposed to bring over 3,000 new businesses and 10.000 new jobs.
"This money is not a number on paper, these are grants for real people, for young farmers, for families who invested their funds and the hope that the state and Europe stand behind them. Today they have been betrayed," Nikollovski stressed.
Nikollovski also condemned the minister's attack on previously successful programs that created over 4.000 new small producers and thousands of families who now live off their labor.
"Instead of taking responsibility, the minister also attacked previous programs that brought real results, he attacked over 4,000 new small producers, young families who now live off their work. Programs that were a symbol of success are now the target of meaningless criticism.
"Today, I offered concrete solutions, in a transparent and responsible manner, for the benefit of farmers and the state. He rejected them and chose to accuse without any evidence," Nikollovski added. /Telegrafi/
