Russia

Lavrov, Guterres Confirm Need for Full Implementation of Grain Deal - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, September 23 (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have discussed the implementation of the Black Sea grain deal and confirmed the need for its full implementation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
Sputnik
"[They] substantively discussed the implementation of the Istanbul agreements on the export of Ukrainian food products from the Black Sea ports and the unimpeded export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers. The parties confirmed the need to ensure their package nature and full implementation," the ministry said in a statement following the meeting on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
Moreover, the sides have discussed the cooperation between Russia and the United Nations and specific initiatives to improve the effectiveness of the organization and its secretariat.
"[They] reaffirmed a mutual commitment to preserving the central coordinating role of the world organization, whose activities must be strictly based on its statutory goals and principles, including the sovereign equality of all member states," the ministry added.
On July 22, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey signed an UN-brokered initiative to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Black Sea ports. Three key Ukrainian ports — Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne — were unblocked to resume exports. The Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was set up to monitor the implementation of the initiative, including ensuring that cargo ships do not carry unauthorized goods or personnel.
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