The newly formed Animal Party Cyprus (APC) was officially launched on Sunday during an event which took place in Nicosia. The APC will participate for the first time in the European elections that will take place in Cyprus on the 25th of May.
The event was addressed among others by the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment Nicos Kouyialis, on behalf of President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, the founder and coordinator of the AP, Kyriakos Kyriakou, and the leader of the Netherlands Party for Animals, Dutch MP Marianne Thieme.
In his speech, read out by the Ministry`s Permanent Secretary Olympia Stylianou, Kouyialis said that other countries in Europe have already recognized the need for the establishment of political parties for the animals and “I believe that in Cyprus the establishment of such a party that aims to promote and safeguard the health and welfare of animals is equally essential”.
He stressed that the Ministry of Agriculture attaches great importance to the welfare of the animals in Cyprus and looks forward to working with the Party for the Animals in promoting their common goal of improving animal welfare.
Founder of the APC, Kyriakos Kyriakou, said that the newly formed party “together with our sister parties is dedicated to reducing the cruel suffering that non human animals are forced to endure”.
The movement has been established to work for the inclusion of effective animal welfare strategies and infrastructure, within the political decision making system of Cyprus, he added.
Addressing the event, Dutch MP Marianne Thieme said that there are animal parties also in Austria, Italy, Portugal, Germany, the UK, Danemark, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, the US, Australia and Turkey.
She added that when the Animal Party in the Netherlands was founded, people considered it to be `a joke`. This is what they will say here in Cyprus as well, she said, but noted that her party has managed in the end to enter the Parliament.
Concluding, she wished the APC every success.
Bravo kiriakos for not giving up looking forward to seeing better conditions for Cyprus animals,no more cage dogs out in there middle of no wear and no more dogs on chains .