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Grain deal extension depends on results for Russia, which are now moderate — diplomat

Dmitry Polyansky said that so far, Russia has not been convinced about the need to have the deal extended

UNITED NATIONS, October 20. /TASS/. The decision on whether the deal on Black Sea grain exports should be extended depends on its practical results for Russia, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky told reporters.

"We will look at the practical results, not that some kind of wishful thinking. Practical results are very modest," he said.

The diplomat said that so far, Russia has not been convinced about the need to have the deal extended, adding that "exports of fertilizers" and "exports of Russian food products" remain "the most important thing."

Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday that talks on extending agreements about food and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine are still ongoing. He did not answer to the question about Russia’s position on the issue, expressed during the recent visit to Moscow by UN Under-Secretary-General Martin Griffiths and Secretary-General of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Rebecca Grynspan.

The deal expires on November 19.

On July 22, a package of documents was signed in Istanbul to solve the problem of food and fertilizer supplies to world markets. The memorandum signed between Russia and the UN envisages that the UN is to join the work to remove anti-Russian restrictions which hamper exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. Another agreement regulates the procedure for the export of grain from the Black Sea ports controlled by Kiev. Created by Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN, the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul is designed to inspect ships with grain in order to prevent arms smuggling and to rule out provocations.

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