Turkey views grain deal implementation as significant
Türkiye Prioritizes Implementation of Black Sea Grain Initiative for Food Security
Baku, June 17 – Türkiye’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler emphasized the significance of the Black Sea grain initiative during the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels on Saturday. According to TASS, Guler stated that the initiative has successfully delivered around 32 million tons of agricultural products to global markets, using approximately 1,000 vessels. He stressed the importance of ensuring quick, secure, and planned supplies of grain to guarantee food security.
The initiative includes agreements on the export of food and fertilizers from Ukraine to the international market. These agreements, which were initially signed on July 22, 2022, for a 120-day period, were later extended in November. One of the agreements specifically regulates the order of grain supplies from the Kiev-controlled ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny. Additionally, Russia and the United Nations signed a memorandum to lift export restrictions on Russian agricultural products and fertilizers for global markets.
However, the second part of the agreement has yet to be implemented. This part involves the unfreezing of Russian exports of food and fertilizers, the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, the resumption of agriculture equipment supplies, the reopening of the Tolyatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, and several other measures. Moscow has extended the deal twice, with the latest extension lasting for another two months until July 17.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently highlighted that the extension of the grain deal would not be considered unless the Russian package of Istanbul agreements was enforced. Lavrov explained that currently, the deal is only being implemented in terms of the supply of Ukrainian grain.
The implementation of the Black Sea grain initiative is crucial for maintaining food security in the region. It facilitates the smooth and timely delivery of agricultural products to global markets, ensuring a steady supply chain. As the deal faces challenges regarding its full implementation, it remains to be seen how the involved parties will address these issues and achieve the desired outcomes.
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