Russia suspends the agreement on the export of agricultural products in the Black Sea port, the Secretary-General of the United Nations: I deeply regret this
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the 17th that he deeply regrets Russia’s decision to suspend the agreement on the export of agricultural products at Black Sea ports, and the United Nations will continue to work on finding solutions.
Guterres pointed out at the press conference that day that Russia’s decision means that the country has canceled its guarantee for the safety of navigation in the northwest of the Black Sea. Previously, the agreement on the export of agricultural products to the Black Sea ports ensured the safe passage of more than 32 million tons of agricultural products shipped from Ukrainian ports. The World Food Program ships large quantities of agricultural products to support humanitarian operations to alleviate hunger in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Guterres said that at the same time that Russia decided to suspend the agreement on the export of agricultural products from the Black Sea ports, the country also suspended the memorandum of understanding signed with the United Nations on the export of Russian grain and fertilizers to “promote the unimpeded export of grain from the Black Sea ports controlled by Ukraine.” , sunflower oil and chemical fertilizers”.
Guterres said that the black sea port export agreement of agricultural products and the memorandum of understanding to promote the export of Russian grain and fertilizer are the “lifeline” of global food security. The deals have helped drop food prices by more than 23 percent since March last year, at a time when food production and supplies are being disrupted by conflict, climate change, energy prices and more.
Guterres said participation in these agreements was a choice. He is aware that Russian grain and fertilizer exports still face obstacles and has written to Russian President Vladimir Putin with new proposals for those deals.
Guterres said he emphasized in the letter that the United Nations had ensured that the United States and the United Kingdom issued key general licenses that would help countries import food and fertilizers from Russia while Russia was under sanctions, while also cooperating to allow Russia to The assets of the main fertilizer group were unfrozen and a custom payment mechanism was established for the Russian Agricultural Bank. He was deeply disappointed that his advice to Putin was not heeded.
Guterres said Russia’s decision would deal a blow to those in need around the world, but it would not deter UN efforts to promote unhindered access to global markets for Ukrainian and Russian food and fertilizers. The United Nations will continue to work on finding a solution.
On July 22 last year, under the leadership of the United Nations, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations jointly signed an agreement on the export of agricultural products at Black Sea ports, which is valid for 120 days. The agreement was extended for 120 days in November last year. When discussing the renewal of the agreement in March this year, the Russian side emphasized that its grain and fertilizer exports were still blocked, and only agreed to extend the agreement for 60 days. The agreement expires on July 17.
(Source: China News Agency/Editor: Luo Yu)
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2023-07-18 07:30:29
