Days after the deal enabling export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea was prolonged, Russia’s president gave guarantees to his African partners.
Vladimir Putin spoke Monday (20 March) at the second International Parliamentary Conference “Russia-Africa”.
According to the UN, 55% of the total amount of grain exported under the deal since July went to developing countries.
“If we nevertheless decide not to renew this deal after 60 days, then we are ready to deliver all the volume that was sent to the countries in Africa, in particular in need, during the previous period from Russia to these countries free of charge,” the president of the Russian Federation said.
The deal known as the Black Sea Initiative is backed by the UN- and endorsed by Turkey. It was signed last July. It includes a Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the UN to ease fertiliser exports.
Last week, Russia insisted on reducing the duration of the deal from an initial 120 days to 60 to hold out for changes on how the package is working.
Is the deal fully implemented?
Under the initiative, UN under secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said, close to 25 million metric tons of foodstuff have been exported since last August, and the UN World Food Programme has been able to transport more than half a million metric tons of wheat to support humanitarian operations in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Yemen.
Griffiths also said it’s vital for the UN-Russia memorandum to be fully implemented.
There has been “meaningful progress, but impediments remain, notably with regard to payment systems,” he said, stressing that UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and trade chief Rebeca Grynspan “are sparing no effort to facilitate its full implementation.”
But Russia’s ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said “the memorandum is simply not working,” and the UN has to recognize it has “no leverage to exempt Russian agricultural export operations from Western sanctions” and its efforts have not produced results.
Asaase Radio 99.5 broadcasts on radio via 99.5 in Accra, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 100.3 in Cape Coast and on our affiliates Bawku FM 101.5 in Bawku, Beats FM 99.9 in Bimbilla, Somua FM 89.9 in Gushegu, Stone City 90.7 in Ho, Mining City 89.5 in Tarkwa and Wale FM 106.9 in Walewale
Tune in or log on to broadcasts online: www.asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
Live streaming: facebook.com/asaaseradio99.5. Also on YouTube: Asaase Radio Official.
Join the conversation. Call: 020 000 9951 or 059 415 7777. Or WhatsApp: 020 000 0995.
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
