Statement by Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin following the consultations of the Russian interministerial delegation with Rebeca Grynspan and Martin Griffiths
13 March 2023 19:46
463-13-03-2023
We have just concluded the next round of consultations between the Russian interministerial delegation and the UN representatives headed by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary General Rebeca Grynspan and the Head of United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Martin Griffiths.
Focus of the discussion - implementation of the "package" agreements concluded in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. Let me remind that they consist of two interrelated parts - the "Black Sea Initiative" on the export of Ukrainian food and raw materials for fertilizers, including ammonia, and the Russia-UN Memorandum on the normalization of domestic agricultural exports.
The comprehensive and frank conversation has once again confirmed that while the commercial export of Ukrainian products is carried out at a steady pace, bringing considerable profits to Kiev, restrictions on the Russian agricultural exporters are still in place. The sanctions exemptions for food and fertilizers announced by Washington, Brussels and London are essentially inactive.
In this regard, the Russian Side, noting the "package" nature of the "Istanbul Agreements" proposed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, does not object to another extension of the "Black Sea Initiative" after its second term expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days.
Our further stance will be determined upon the tangible progress on normalization of our agricultural exports, not in words, but in deeds. It includes bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, "unfreezing" of financial activities and ammonia supplies via the "Tolyatti-Odessa" pipeline.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
