Turkish President Extends Black Sea Grain Export Agreement

JAKARTA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the Black Sea Grain Agreement whose validity period will expire on Sunday, is extended to 120 days.

"As a result of our negotiations with both parties, we have confirmed the extension of the agreement period ending March 19," Erdogan said at a ceremony in Canakale Province, Saturday, citing Antara.

Erdogan thanked Russia, Ukraine, and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for their efforts to once again extend the term of the agreement.

"This agreement, which has facilitated the shipment of 25 million tons of grain into the world market with more than 800 ships to date, is very important for the stability of global food supply," said Erdogan.

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the deal was extended for 120 days.

"Thanks to Antonio Guterres, President Erdogan, Minister of (Turkey National Defense) Hulusi Akar, and all our partners for sticking to the agreement. With our joint efforts, 25 million tons of Ukrainian grains were sent to the world market," he wrote on Twitter.

Last July, Turkey, the United Nations, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal in Istanbul to continue exporting grains from three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

The export of grains from the port was temporarily suspended after the Russian-Ukraine war erupted in February 2022.

Meanwhile, the United Nations said in a statement that 25 million metric tons of grains and foodstuffs delivered to 45 countries have helped lower global food prices.

"We would like to thank the Turkish Government for its diplomatic and operational support for the Black Sea Grain Initiative," the United Nations said.

"The Black Sea grains initiative, along with a memorandum of understanding to promote Russian food and fertilizer products to the world market, is critical to global food security, especially for developing countries," the United Nations said, adding.

The United Nations said it remains strongly committed to both agreements and urged all parties to double their efforts to fully implement the deal.

But recently, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova told TASS news agency the deal had been extended for 60 days.

"We - both the Russian Foreign Ministry and Russia's permanent representative for the United Nations - have repeatedly stated that the Russian side has informed all parties in the agreement that they extended the agreement for 60 days. All parties have been informed of this verbally and in writing through special records," Zakharova said.