UN expects ships to resume sailing under the grain deal on Thu

U.N./ANKARA/MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (PRIME) -- Navigation of ships in the Black Sea under the grain deal should continue on Thursday, U.N. coordinator Amir Abdulla said in his Twitter page on Wednesday.

“Exports of grain and foodstuffs from Ukraine? need to continue. Although no movements of vessels are planned for November 2 under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, we expect loaded ships to sail on Thursday,” he said.

On October 29, Moscow suspended its participation in the grain deal after the Ukrainian forces damaged the Russian fleet, including civil ships near Sevastopol.

An Istanbul source familiar with the matter told PRIME that the security issues of the Black Sea grain corridor were under discussion, but no achievements had been made.

Turkey’s National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday that dry cargo carriers that sail under the Turkish flag continued carrying agricultural products from Ukraine safely. Moscow is still negotiating with the U.N. access of its grain and fertilizers to the global markets, he added.

“The Russian side continues negotiations with the U.N. about the delivery of grain, food, and chemicals from the Russian ports. As Turkey, we continue our efforts of making our contribution to the business and fulfilling our role of a mediator efficiently,” Akar said.

Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the U.N. had to act as a guarantor of the grain deal and that the West should understand that no more provocations under the initiative were allowed.

Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci told Huriyyet daily that Ankara was shocked by Moscow’s decision to suspend participation in the grain deal, while Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the U.S. National Security Council John Kirby said in a news briefing that Washington expected the grain deal to continue.

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