Report: No conditions for prolongation of grain deal – ambassador

ANKARA, Jun 9 (PRIME) -- Russia is still in consultations with the U.N. on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, but there are no conditions for its prolongation, Russian ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Turkey Alexei Yerkhov said in an interview to Turkish business daily Ekonomim published on Friday.

Russia showed good will and responsibility in its approach to the situation, but the grain deal was a package agreement that included lifting of obstacles for exports of Russia’s food and fertilizers, reconnection of Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT interbank messaging system, restart of supplies and servicing of agricultural equipment and spare parts, and the relaunch of the Togliatti–Odessa pipeline, Yerkhov said.

“Not a single of these points has been fulfilled. We have repeatedly said that we are not interested in a situation when there is only a one-sided game. We continue consultations with the U.N., and the next round is scheduled for Friday, but no conditions for prolongation of the agreement have emerged and we don’t expect them to emerge,” he said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Gazulin said in an interview to Rossiya 24 television channel that bombing of the Togliatti–Odessa ammonia pipeline, which was done on Monday by a Ukrainian sabotage group according to the Russian Defense Ministry, would definitely be a part of the grain deal talks.

“I think that this factor will be definitely taken into account,” Gazulin said.

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