Turkish
President Erdogan announced that the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement has
been extended for another 2 months. Russian and Ukrainian officials confirmed
the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement until July 18, and UN
Secretary-General Guterres expressed his gratitude to Turkey for its role in
extending the agreement.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement, which normally expires today (May 18), has been extended for another two months. "With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends and the contributions of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to extend the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement for another 2 months," Erdoğan said on his Twitter account yesterday. Stating that Russia will not prevent the departure of Turkish ships in the ports of Mykolaiv and Olvia, Erdoğan said, "We are grateful to them for this". In his statement, Erdoğan expressed that he hoped that the war will first stop with a permanent ceasefire and then peace will be established. He thanked Russian President Mr. Putin, Ukrainian President Mr. Zelenski and UN Secretary General Mr. Guterres for their efforts in the process.
Russia and Ukraine also confirmed the extension of the Grain Agreement. At her weekly press conference in the capital Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mariya Zakharova, referring to the statements on the extension of the agreement, said: "We confirm the statements made on this matter. This is an opportunity to ensure world food safety, not in words, but in deeds, and above all to help countries that are more in need," Zaharova said. Zaharova said that there have been some setbacks in the implementation of the agreement and that Russia's position on the agreement has not changed, adding that officials and experts will continue to work on the issue. Russia has accepted the grain corridor agreement but is demanding an easing of restrictions imposed on the country by the West.
Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov also made a statement on the agreement. Kubrakov gave information on his social media account confirming that the grain agreement was extended until July 18. "We are grateful to the United Nations and our Turkish allies for their efforts to strengthen food security," Kubrakov said. Kubrakov noted that 'artificial' obstacles to the implementation of the agreement must be removed "We welcome the continuation of the initiative, but we emphasize that it must work effectively. For this, the problems created by Russia by sabotaging inspections and registering a new fleet for several months in a row must be eliminated."
GUTERRES:
I AM GRATEFUL TO ERDOGAN AND THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT
Speaking to reporters at the UN building in New York about the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was extended for another 60 days, Guterres said he was pleased that the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement was extended until July 18. "The continuation of the initiative is good news for the world," Guterres said.
Expressing that he expects a comprehensive agreement to improve, expand and extend the agreement, Guterres thanked the parties for conducting the talks in a positive atmosphere. "I am grateful to President Erdoğan and the Turkish government for their efforts in coordinating with the UN on the Black Sea Grain Initiative," said UN Secretary-General Guterres.
Guterres pointed out that the significance of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the memorandum of understanding between the UN and Russia is clear: "These agreements are important for global food security. Ukrainian and Russian products feed the world. Thanks to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, 30 million tons of grain were exported," he said.
MORE
THAN 30 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN PASSED THROUGH THE 'CORRIDOR'
More than 30 million 250 thousand tons of grain has been transported so far through the 'grain corridor' created to prevent the war between Russia and Ukraine, two countries that are the world's granaries, from disrupting grain trade. Within the scope of the ongoing shipment, which has not been interrupted thanks to the extension of the agreement, 951 ships have so far left the ports of Yuzhny, Odessa and Chernomorsk which are in need of security due to their proximity to Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, and Russian-controlled regions. According to statistics, 40 percent of the grain passing through the corridor has been sent to Europe, 30 percent to Asia, 13 percent to Turkey, 12 percent to Africa and 5 percent to the Middle East.
The 13 types of products transported through the grain corridor so far under the agreement are as follows:
- Barley
- Wheat
- Soya
- Corn
- Canola Seed
- Sunflower Meal
- Wheat Bran
- Sunflower Seeds
- Sugar Beet
- Sunflower Oil
- Soybean Oil
- Peas
- Processed Mixed Food