UN releases statement on grain initiative

The United Nations (UN) reported concerns about the slowdown in the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric made a statement on the subject at the daily press conference. Drawing attention to the serious slowdown in May in particular, Dujarric said that 33 ships departed from Ukrainian ports in May, which corresponded to half of the previous month. Stating that exports also fell to half of the previous month in May, Dujarric said, "The Russian Federation informed the Joint Coordination Center that it will restrict registrations at the Yuzhny/Pivdennyi port as long as ammonia exports do not take place." Noting that the UN made "strategic and operational" recommendations to all parties, Dujarric said, "We will continue our intensive contact with the parties for the continuation of the initiative and the full resumption of operations." Dujarric said, "We are concerned about the slowdown in the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative." In order to reduce the impact of Russia's attack on Ukraine on global food prices, the UN, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative at a ceremony held in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. The agreement, which was extended for 120 days starting from November 19, 2022, was extended again on March 18. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on May 17, "With the efforts of our country, the support of our Russian friends and the contributions of our Ukrainian friends, it was decided to extend the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement for another 2 months."