MOSCOW, August 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor will be prepared to extend a helping hand to Greece to promptly get back to the Russian market, if food sanctions are lifted, the supervisory agency’s chief, Sergei Dankvert, said on Wednesday.

“We are ready to maintain working contacts with the control and supervisory services of Greece in order to let supplies resume without delays when the food sanctions are lifted,” Dankvert said at a meeting with the chief of the Greek embassy’s trading and economic department, Ilias Thanassas.

According to Rosselkhoznadzor’s news release at the moment other countries, including Turkey, are eager to offer their substitutes for the entire range of products that Greece had been marketing in Russia until just recently.

Some countries, Dankvert warned, would find it “practically impossible to regain their niche on the Russian market. For instance, Russia’s Far East was critically dependent on supplies of meat from the United States and Canada. Now, that Rosselkhoznadzor has established active contacts with China’s veterinary service to ensure safe supplies of pork from some of China’s giant highly integrated producers, the American and Canadian providers will have absolutely no chances of getting back to the Russian market. India has offered large-scale supplies of beef, and this means that Russia will have little or no interest in the resumption of its import from Australia, Rosselkhoznadzor said.

Dankvert emphasized the vast growth potential of Greek food supplies to Russia. According to his estimates, Greece’s ability to export dairy products alone may exceed the capabilities of the Baltic countries. Chilled aquaculture fish from Greece enjoyed great popularity with Russian customers, just as fresh vegetables and fruit. More than 90% of strawberries grown in Greece was meant for Russia.