Press release on Russia-UN consultations on global food security
22 December 2022 20:14
2629-22-12-2022
On December 21, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and officials from related Russian ministries and companies held a regular round of consultations with a UN delegation via video conference. The delegation included Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths.
They continued to discuss in detail the issues of carrying out the Istanbul "package" agreements of July 22, including the Black Sea Grain Initiative to facilitate the shipment of Ukrainian grain and the Russia-UN memorandum on normalising domestic food and fertiliser exports.
As for the memorandum, it was noted that the blocking effects of the unilateral sanctions on Russian exports to world markets have remained, which means that bank transaction payments are unavailable, insurance rates are prohibitive and vessels are denied port access. It was noted that without reintroducing our fertiliser and food exports, the problem of affordable prices could lead to a fertiliser and food shortage crisis.
Regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative, it was reaffirmed that the agreement would be further carried out as approved, including the coordinated parameters and procedures, during the 120-day extension period until March 18, 2023. So far, 580 ships have used the maritime humanitarian corridor to carry over 14.8 million tonnes of grain, mainly forage grain, which accounted for 70 percent of all cargo, to mostly industrial nations - 51 percent of all supplies.
Both parties emphasised the importance of ensuring the actual and full implementation of the Istanbul "package" agreements for the sake of mitigating the threat to global food security.
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