United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday urged Russia and Ukraine to show a “spirit of reconciliation” and to ensure the continuity of a UN-mediated agreement that allows Ukraine to restart grain exports. ports in the Black Sea.
Guterres said that after the talks in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, in less than a month under the agreement, 21 ships left Ukrainian ports and 15 ships left Istanbul to load grain and other food supplies into Ukraine.
“Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I have been clear: there is no solution to the global food crisis without full global access to Ukrainian food products and Russian food and fertilizers,” he told reporters in Lviv.
He said the signatories of the agreement are working professionally and in good faith to keep the food flowing.
“I call to continue this and to overcome all obstacles and permanently resolve all difficulties in a spirit of reconciliation,” he said, adding that initiatives in conflict situations are “inherently fragile” and must be constantly nurtured.
According to the July 22 agreement brokered by Turkey and the UN, Ukraine was able to resume its exports from the Black Sea ports, which had been paused for five months due to Russia’s February 24 invasion, in early August.
In the meantime – and critically – we are seeing signs that global food markets are starting to stabilize, Guterres said. “But let’s not be mistaken – there are many more ways this translates into the daily lives of people at your local bakery and markets.”
source: Noticias
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