Global Courant
TORONTO
The United Nations on Friday called for the removal of all obstacles to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the Black Sea grain agreement.
Speaking at a Security Council meeting on Ukraine, Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Secretary-General’s Assistant for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, reminded that the Black Sea Initiative ensures the safe transport of over 32 million metric tons of foodstuffs.
“We want all barriers to be removed to keep this deal going,” DiCarlo said. He expressed his disappointment with the slowdown in the implementation of the initiative.
“Food exports via the maritime humanitarian corridor fell from a peak of 4.2 million mt in October to 1.3 million mt in May, this is the lowest volume.
“Since the start of the initiative,” he said.
US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Russia had long blocked grain exports that benefit African and Middle Eastern countries and “feed much of the world”.
“This is what makes the Black Sea Grain Initiative a critical adjustment that we need to extend next month to the benefit of all,” he said.
Noting that Russia used the threat of withdrawing from the agreement, Thomas-Greenfield said, “We should encourage Russia to stay in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.”
Geng Shuang, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, expressed his deep concern about the impact of the Ukraine crisis on the world economy and said that people’s grievances should be prevented.
He said that the Black Sea Grain Agreement should be implemented in an effective and balanced way and the agreement between Russia and the UN should be taken seriously.
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said that Russia will continue to provide assistance to developing countries in need of grain and fertilizer.
“However, under the slogan of protecting the interests of those in need, blocking the commercial supply of grain from Ukraine to Western states is something we refuse to do. Contrary to the claims of the Secretary-General, they (the poorest countries) received less than 3% of all food deliveries,” he said.
The agreement, first signed between Turkey, the UN, Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul last July, aimed to resume grain exports from Ukrainian ports. Exports were stopped due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that started in February 2022.
The deal has since been renewed several times and was extended for another two months on May 18.
On 13 June, Guterres expressed concern that Russia would not extend the Black Sea grain agreement beyond the 17 July deadline.
“I am worried and we are working hard to make sure that it will be possible to continue the Black Sea Initiative, and at the same time we can continue our work to facilitate Russian exports.” time.
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