Step forward in grape dispute

PARTIES in the grape dispute yesterday hailed a meeting between unions and Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis as an important step forward.

The four unions representing vine-growers — Panagrotiko, Pek, Eka and Agrotiki — asked the government to subsidise the export of table grapes by £50 per ton.

Rolandis said the demand seemed reasonable, but that the Council of Ministers would discuss the matter tomorrow. He added that the government would have the final word on the issue.

The secretary General of Panagrotiko, Koullis Papachristophorou, said yesterday exports had been declining for the last ten years and that the previous government subsidy of £28.50 did not cover vine-growers’ expenses.

In the last two weeks, vine-growers have been protesting for higher government subsidy because of low grape exports and a failure of the wine- manufacturing industry to buy their goods. Protests have included a refusal to pick or process table grapes, and dumping grapes on the Limassol to Paphos road at the Pissouri roundabout.

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