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UN secretary-general’s actions delay solution to food crisis - Lavrov

In Russian Foreign Minister words, Russia was alarmed by the United Nations’ slow response to proposals on grain transportation

MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov believes that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is delaying a solution of the global food crisis through his actions,

"The UN secretary-general is delaying a solution to the food crisis through his actions, he does not allow sending <…> grain as soon as possible. This is regrettable," Lavrov said in an interview with the national broadcaster of Belarus, aired on Thursday.

In his words, Russia was alarmed by the United Nations’ slow response to proposals on grain transportation.

"We are alarmed by a slow reaction to the matter that seems urgent. I do not rule out that the UN Secretariat is also experiencing a most intense pressure from those willing to take this international organization under external control," the minister continued.

The Russian top diplomat added that Russia has come up with its own solutions to the crisis.

"All proposals, voiced by President Vladimir Putin, have been put on paper and sent to New York. We did what we could," Lavrov said.

At the same time, the United Nations has been trying to agree on transportation of Ukrainian grain first, he added. In his words, Secretary-Genearl Antonio Guterres is trying to solve the issue of transporting grain from Ukrainian ports without taking into account Russia’s daily announcements of humanitarian corridors for the purpose.

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