Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
Turkey assessed the possibility of extending the grain deal
[Regnum] The Black Sea Grain Initiative may be extended for a new period, but under certain conditions. This was stated on July 15 in an interview with TASS by a diplomatic source in Turkey.
Turkey does not rule out extending grain deal if Moscow approves UN proposals
“Prolongation is possible, but given the statements of the Russian authorities about the non-fulfillment of the Istanbul agreements relating to it during the year, this can happen if the proposals of [UN Secretary General António] Guterres are recognized as acceptable ,” the interlocutor explained.
The source added that, given the position that the Russian side takes on this issue, other options are unlikely. He noted that Ankara is actively working to extend the term of the grain deal. In his opinion, negotiations between the presidents of Turkey and Russia, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, should now be expected . The interlocutor believes that the situation will be completely clarified following the results of this meeting.
As IA Regnum reported , UN Secretary General António Guterres sent a letter to the Russian President with proposals to extend the grain deal. Representative of Guterres Stéphane Dujarric noted that the Secretary General is ready to interact with Russia on his proposals and remains in contact with the relevant parties. In particular, in the letter, Guterres touched on the topic of settlements through Rosselkhozbank.
At the same time, the Russian president announced on July 13 that he had not seen the letter from the UN Secretary General on the Black Sea initiative. He noted that the Russian side is in contact with the UN staff.
Representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN signed the Black Sea Initiative in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. After that, the deal was extended three times: in November 2022, and also in March and May 2023.
The grain deal, which aims to help countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America in need, expires on July 17. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that there were no grounds for its extension.
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope for the extension of the grain deal for at least three months. At the same time, he stressed that Ankara will strive to extend the grain corridor for two years.
On July 13, a source familiar with the negotiations stated that the United Nations intends to extend the grain deal for at least two months.
More from regnum.ru
Not a single ship with fertilizers from Russia was sent as part of a grain deal
The UN Coordinating Center said that not a single ship with Russian fertilizers was sent as part of the Black Sea food initiative. This is stated in the statement of the body published on July 15.
“The agreement of July 22, 2022 (grain deal. - Ed.) also allows the export of [Russian] fertilizers, including ammonia, but not a single ship with fertilizers was sent as part of the initiative,” the RIA Novosti center quoted the message as saying.
The UN noted that the situation with the status of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline blown up on June 5, on which the traffic of fertilizers depends, is still unclear.
Also, the Coordinating Center noted that the poorest countries received only 10% of corn and 40% of wheat exported from Ukraine as part of the grain deal. 90% of corn and 60% of wheat went to high and upper middle income countries.
As reported by IA Regnum, on June 7, the Russian Ministry of Defense disseminated information about the explosion of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline in the Kharkiv region on the evening of June 5. Earlier, the head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, Oleg Sinegubov, announced the depressurization of the ammonia pipeline .
The Black Sea Initiative, which was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022 by representatives of Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN, expires on July 17. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that there were no grounds for its extension.
On July 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that to date, not a single item in the grain deal related to Russian interests has been fulfilled. He noted that this is a one-sided game. The head of state added that Russia could suspend participation in the grain deal and return to it when its conditions are met.
Earlier, UN Secretary General António Guterres sent a letter to the Russian President with proposals to extend the grain deal. A diplomatic source in Turkey believes that the Black Sea Grain Initiative can be extended for a new period, but given the statements of the Russian authorities about the failure to implement the Istanbul agreements relating to it within a year, this can happen if Russia recognizes the proposals of the UN Secretary General as acceptable.
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope for the extension of the grain deal for at least three months. But he stressed that he would strive to extend the grain corridor for two years. The politician intends to hold talks with Putin until July 17, since the Black Sea grain initiative is calculated until that day.
More from RIA Novosti:
Putin told the head of South Africa that the agreements on the grain deal were not fulfilled
Commitments to remove barriers to Russian food exports are still not being fulfilled, Vladimir Putin said in a conversation with his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa.
"When discussing the issue of the Istanbul package agreements, Vladimir Putin stressed that the obligations set out in the corresponding Russia- UN memorandum to remove obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers still remain unfulfilled," the Kremlin website said.
Putin stressed that the main goal of the agreement - the supply of grain to countries in need, including African ones - has not yet been achieved. Both leaders reaffirmed their mutual intention to strengthen cooperation in various fields.
The Black Sea Initiative, which was signed by representatives of Russia , Turkey , Ukraine and the UN on July 22, 2022 , involves the export of Ukrainian grain and food, as well as fertilizers across the Black Sea.
The grain deal is an integral part of the package deal. The second part, a three-year Russia-UN memorandum, provides for the unblocking of Russian exports of food and fertilizers. Among the main demands of Moscow were the reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT, the resumption of supplies of agricultural machinery, spare parts and service, the restoration of the Togliatti - Odessa ammonia pipeline . This part of the package agreement is not implemented.
Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said on June 21 that there are no prerequisites for extending the grain deal, since obligations towards Moscow are not being fulfilled. The agreement expires on July 17th.
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