ANI |
Updated: November 11, 2022 23:39 IST
Geneva [Switzerland]November 11 (ANI): United Nations officials and a Russian delegation have started talks to address Moscow’s grievances about the Black Sea grains export initiative that began in Geneva, Al Jazeera reported, quoting a UN representative.
UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said during a press briefing that her assistant chief Martin Griffiths, who is leading talks on Ukrainian exports, and senior UN trade official Rebecca Grinspan are meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin at the UN office in Geneva.
“This discussion, we hope, will lead to progress in the unhindered export of food and fertilizers from the Russian Federation to global markets,” Al Jazeera quoted Vellucci as saying.
The talks came eight days before a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, which will be renewed. The agreement helped stem the global food crisis by allowing the export of food and fertilizer from several Black Sea ports in Ukraine.
Earlier, in the first week of November, the Group of Seven (G7) countries called for an extension of the UN-brokered grain deal.
“We strongly support the UN Secretary-General’s call for an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), which has reduced global food prices. We urge Russia to heed the Secretary-General’s call,” the foreign ministers said jointly. Advertisement
Earlier, on November 2, Russia resumed its participation in the Black Sea Grain Agreement after receiving assurances from Ukraine not to use the designated humanitarian corridor and ports for the export of agricultural products for military operations.
“With the help of an international organization and Turkey, the necessary written guarantees were obtained from Ukraine on the non-use of the designated humanitarian corridor and Ukrainian ports for the export of agricultural products for military operations against the Russian Federation and submitted to the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) on November 1,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. .
“The Russian Federation believes that the assurances received at this time are sufficient and will re-implement the initiative (Black Sea Initiative) – an agreement for the safe transportation of grain and food from Ukrainian ports – which was suspended after the terrorist attack in Sevastopol,” the statement added.
The UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed at a ceremony in Istanbul in July. According to the agreement, ships transporting grain from three Ukrainian ports will travel along the agreed corridor to markets around the world.
On Monday, UN officials told the Security Council to keep alive a landmark deal to export grain and related foodstuffs from Ukraine amid the ongoing war and global cost-of-living crisis.
The UNSC discussion comes after Russia requested the meeting following last weekend’s decision to suspend participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative “for an unspecified period” in response to Ukrainian attacks on its ships. (ANI)
