Guterres: Talks are continuing to solve problems related to the initiative to ship grain through the Black Sea

ARK News… The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, confirmed that talks between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations are continuing to solve problems related to the initiative to ship grain through the Black Sea.

Guterres said during a session of the UN Security Council on the protection of civilians in conflicts, that the Grain Initiative across the Black Sea and the memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and Russia constitute an important model in order to reduce the effects of the food crisis within the framework of protecting civilians in conflicts.

"Thanks to this initiative, the market has stabilized and food prices have decreased," he added.

Guterres stressed the need to "not ignore the meaning and purpose of international humanitarian law," noting that this law "constitutes the difference between life and death and between sobriety and chaos."

He also stressed the importance of safe access for humanitarian workers, and the need to end attacks against them and facilitate their work.

Guterres welcomed Russia's agreement to extend the grain initiative for 60 days, adding: "There are still some problems going on, but representatives of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations will continue to discuss these problems."

Last July, Turkey, the United Nations, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from Ukrainian ports to help address the global food crisis, which was temporarily suspended after the start of the Russian war in February 2022.

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