"Maybe the plague is not on sheep, but on the people in the leadership of BABH". Thus, the former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and leader of the party "Edinenie" Ivan Hristanov summarized the problem with the disease.
He noted the lack of trust in the institution and opined that action on the ground was inadequate and in some cases no action at all. In his words, the ordinary veterinarians and experts of the BABH cannot be blamed for all this. Hristanov emphasized that the Agency has world-class experts. But:
"All these people, when there is a leadership that is absolutely impotent and does not understand anything about how to act in such a situation, they themselves do not dare to stake their name".
The former Deputy Minister of Agriculture went to the site of the farm where the plague was discovered:
"There was nothing to stop me from reaching the object. It is clear that we cannot isolate the 3-kilometer zone, because it is next to the center of Velingrad, but at the very least, access to the livestock facility should have been limited.
He also explained about the disinfection area for vehicles leaving the site. "It was a very ordinary puddle, formed by the rain, with a bale of straw thrown into it," Hristanov clarified in the "12+3" show. In addition, according to him, there was no fence anywhere, and people were walking everywhere.
He does not deny the presence of the disease, but states a series of violations that he saw on the spot. According to him, this does not allow the preservation of the state. And he pointed out that he had not seen a single inspector there for 3 days. "When there is a plague, they should behave as if there is a plague, urged Ivan Hristanov and added:
"At such a moment, the Minister of Agriculture and the Executive Director of the BBAH should realize their role as guarantors, and they do not realize it.
He does not rule out the possibility of competing interests.
"The asymmetry is obvious - some take care of animals and the others grow subsidies,", the former deputy minister believes, and stated that there is an asymmetry in the way pastures are distributed.
It is possible that there will be sanction measures that will severely affect Bulgarian exports economically, he expressed his opinion and added that there are doubts as to whether the notification has been made.
"All this chaotic behavior, the lack of clearly expressed professionalism, of measures understandable by people, society, farmers - this instills distrust. The only thing that can restore trust is to immediately appoint a new minister and a new executive director of the Agency", Ivan Hristanov believes. And continued his comment:
"Even this I think - are these people - the minister and the director of the BABH, not waiting for the new government to get out and until then they will kick the ball".
For him "the new government is like being in a stable with the plague":
"A plague has struck them all. Nobody likes talking to others. There's the same messed up work I can't see the care in".