Report: Ankara may create grain export mechanism with Moscow, Kyiv

ANKARA, Jun 2 (PRIME) -- Ankara plans to create a mechanism that ensures a safe corridor for maritime transportation of grain together with Moscow and Kyiv, Turkish daily Star reported on Thursday.

Previously, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the U.N. had an offer to create a contact group of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the U.N. to help grain carriers leave the Ukrainian ports. Turkey agreed with the suggestion in general, he said.

Star reported that if all the parties agree, the first issue that the Istanbul-based group would solve is creation of a safe corridor for sea transportation of grain. Expectations that Russia and Ukraine will hold peaceful negotiations grew after a phone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and announcement of a June 8 visit to Turkey of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Moscow and Kyiv are ready to reach a principal compromise on the safe passage of grain carriers, but technical details are yet to be discussed and mutual guarantees on the mines that block the ships’ routes are to be given, the daily reported.

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