UNITED NATIONS, February 16. /TASS/. The UN continues efforts to fully implement the Russian part of the Istanbul agreements, including on the export of ammonia fertilizers, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for the UN chief, said at a news conference on Wednesday.
"The numbers speak for themselves, that the grain deal has had a positive impact on pushing down the price of food at the global level," he said in response to a question from TASS. "The destination for where all the grains are is also clear for all to see; our colleagues at their Joint Coordination Centre have been extremely transparent on where all the grain and the feed is going. Any grain or anything that is exported through there has a positive impact on the global food security."
"I can tell you that from our colleagues on the ground, they continue to engage with all parties to the initiative and facilitate the implementation of the initiative and resolve any disagreements that may arise during the operational work of the JCC," the spokesman went on to say. "The parties continue through their representatives in Istanbul at the Coordination Centre to discuss and decide daily on movements of vessels and inspections. More than 21.3 million tons of grain and food products have been moved so far during the initiative, helping to bring down global food prices and stabilizing markets."
Dujarric continued, " We also continue our efforts to fully implement the rest of the memorandum of understanding, especially including on the issue of ammonia and on the issue of the exports of Russian grain and fertilizer. The numbers have seen <…> that Russia has been able to export some of that material, but Ms. [Rebeca] Grynspan and others are continuously working with all parties involved to push that forward, as well."
Istanbul agreements
A package of agreements aiming to help with food and fertilizer supplies to global markets was signed on July 22 in Istanbul to last 120 days. One of the agreements sets forth a procedure for the export of grain from Kiev-controlled ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. Russia, Turkey and the United Nations established a four-way coordination center to inspect ships with grain to prevent weapons smuggling and provocations. Under a Russia-UN memorandum, the UN also undertakes to work toward lifting anti-Russian restrictions that hamper exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.
The deal was extended for another 120 days in November. Russian officials have repeatedly said some of the deal’s clauses remained unfulfilled, including the agreement that the grain should be directed mostly to the poorest countries. They also highlighted that there were hurdles for shipments of Russian fertilizers and food to the world market.