By Janet Ekstract
NEW YORK- On Friday, a high-level Russian delegation is scheduled to meet senior UN officials in Geneva for talks on the Ukraine grain deal, according to a UN spokesperson. In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson said: “They will continue ongoing consultations in support of the efforts by the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the full implementation of the two agreements signed on July 22 in Istanbul.” There was controversy concerning the deal after Russia temporarily backed out of the deal, a week ago before Turkish officials stepped in to get the grain deal back on track. Both the UN along with Turkish officials and Turkish President Erdogan have been working to keep the grain deal flowing as smoothly as possible as well as allay Russia’s concerns.
Russia had voiced concerns over claims it made, that its ships were attacked and that safe transport of grain shipments wasn’t possible. An issue of contention for Russia is the fact that shipments are coming from Ukraine but Russia also wanted to be able to export its products and fertilizers as well. Both Turkiye and the UN are working toward that end so that both sides in the grain deal, get what they want. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had commented that Turkish officials continue ongoing diplomatic efforts to remove impediments for Russian grain and fertilizer exports. Cavusolgu added that Russian fertilizer exports were also included as part of the Istanbul Grain Deal that was signed by the UN, Turkiye, Russia and Ukraine in July.
Guterres and Cavusoglu had voiced their grave concerns last week, about Russia pulling out of the grain deal, citing a looming food crisis if the grain deal did not continue. In a recent press conference, Cavusoglu explained that he had met with African leaders who expressed their worries about grain, food and fertilizers reaching the Horn of Africa. An agreement was reached last week that will see free shipments going to the African countries most in need. Several of those nations include Somalia and Sudan.
