United Nations chiefs held talks with Russian officials on the Black Sea agreements on exporting grain and fertilisers, eight days before one of the deals is set to expire. The discussions took place behind closed doors at the UN Palais des Nations headquarters in Geneva and wrapped up mid-afternoon. The discussions updated on progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilisers, including ammonia, originating from the Russian Federation to global markets, said a UN statement. The meeting between UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, UN trade and development agency head Rebeca Grynspan and a Russian delegation led by deputy foreign minister Sergei Vershinin also focused on steps taken to facilitate payments, shipping insurance, and access to EU ports for grains and fertiliser.

The world cannot afford to let global fertiliser accessibility problems become a global food shortage, the statement said. The UN also managed to unblock a shipment of 20,000 tons of fertiliser in the Netherlands, stuck in the Dutch port of Rotterdam due to EU-imposed sanctions on certain individuals and goods. The shipment will head for Malawi in the coming days under the auspices of the UN World Food Programme, according to the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fertiliser in question was frozen because a sanctioned individual is involved with the Russian company that owns it, it said, without naming the individual or company involved. The decision to release the fertiliser was made on the understanding that the UN would ensure that it is delivered to the agreed location (Malawi) and that the Russian company and sanctioned individual will earn nothing from the transaction, the Hague said.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP