UN: Black Sea Grain Initiative should continue

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"The continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is crucial for global food security, as grain and fertilizer prices and availability have not returned to pre-war levels, causing hardship, particularly in developing countries," the United Nations announced yesterday (March 13).

It was announced that Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, met with a high-level delegation from the Russian Federation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.

The discussions focused on the implementation of the two agreements signed on 22 July 2022: the Black Sea Grain Initiative between the Russian Federation, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UN; and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN, to facilitate unimpeded exports of food and fertilizer, according to the statement.

"Food Price Index decreasing since agreements"

"The FAO Food Price Index has decreased for 10 consecutive months since reaching record-high levels in March 2022, clearly demonstrating the positive impact of both agreements on global food prices," the statement underlined.

However, "grain and fertilizer prices and availability have not returned to pre-war levels, causing hardship, particularly in developing countries," the UN stated.

Extended for 120 days before

The UN noted "the announcement made today by the Russian Federation regarding an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for 60 days," and added that, "the UN will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and ensure its continuity."

It was underlined that the UN's support to the agreements made in Istanbul was "part of the global response to the most severe cost-of-living crisis in a generation."

"The two agreements have had a positive impact on global food security, with millions of tons of grain reaching global markets.

Hardships in developing countries

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed the exports of 24 million MT of grains and over 1,600 secure vessel voyages through the Black Sea with 55 percent of food exports going to developing countries," said yesterday's statement.

The continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is crucial for global food security, as grain and fertilizer prices and availability have not returned to pre-war levels, causing hardship, particularly in developing countries.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed in İstanbul on July 22, 2022, between Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, and the UN.

With the agreement signed three ports were re-opened — Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny — and safe sea transportation was provided from Ukraine for the export of grain that has been stuck for months.

On July 27, a coordination center to implement the deal opened in İstanbul.

The agreement was extended for 120 days on November 19, 2022. (EMK/PE)