The arguments of grain growers protesting against the lifting of the ban on grain imports from Ukraine are completely groundless, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov told journalists on Saturday.
Denkov stressed that the link between the government and the protesters is broken because of the grain growers who first refused a meeting with Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev and then with him.
"In the last couple of days they started behaving like terrorists. They are using false arguments, making demands – “Make this happen immediately, if you don't we will block the state”. I do not negotiate with terrorists," Denkov said.
"The [agriculture] sector cannot claim that the state does not care, given that the state gives over BGN 2 billion, it cannot treat European requirements with disregard, given that the tractors they want to block the roads with were bought with European funds," the prime minister added.
According to him, after certain political parties announced their support for the protest, grain growers have radically changed their approach and they no longer even make attempts to discuss the situation with the government.
Denkov said he will once again invite the grain growers to a meeting, hoping that they will respond this time. He added that he does not see a reason for refusal. "Problems are not solved with threats and strikes, but when you sit down at the table and discuss specific numbers, who got what, what they lost and what they expect," the Prime Minister said.
/KK/
