In a written statement made by the UN Geneva Office, today in Geneva, the United Nations (UN) Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan on the extension of the Grain Corridor Agreement and the UN Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Aid Coordinator Martin Griffiths. It was stated that he met with a high-level delegation led by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.
In the statement, it was reported that the meeting focused on the implementation of two agreements signed on July 22, 2022, these agreements are the “Black Sea Grain Initiative” between the Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN, and the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the UN to facilitate unhindered exports of food and fertilizers.
It was reported that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed today that he is fully committed to the UN’s Black Sea Grain Initiative, as well as efforts to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports.
In the statement, it was emphasized that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Price Index reached record levels in March 2022, and that both agreements had a positive effect on food prices, as this index fell for 10 consecutive months.
Noting that the UN did not object to Russia’s statement that it did not object to the extension of the Grain Corridor Agreement, which will expire on 18 March, for only 60 days, the UN Secretary-General said, “The UN Secretary-General affirms the integrity of the UN’s Black Sea Grain Initiative. “The UN’s support for the agreements reached in Istanbul is part of the global response to the most serious cost of living crisis in a generation.”
Stating that the Grain Corridor Agreement allows the export of 24 million tons of grain, the statement said, “The continuation of the Grain Corridor Agreement is very important for global food security because grain and fertilizer prices and their accessibility have not reached pre-war levels. This situation causes difficulties especially in developing countries. is happening”.
The Grain Corridor Agreement was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 between Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and the UN. The agreement was extended for 120 days from 19 November 2022.