Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed on Wednesday the implementation of the Istanbul agreements on grain exports, bilateral cooperation and coordination at the UN. The Russian MFA said in a statement following the meeting on the margins of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
"The issues of food security in the context of the implementation of agreements reached in Istanbul in July 2022 on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports and unimpeded access of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to the world market were discussed," the message reads.
It specifies that the ministers also discussed the prospects for expanding business partnerships in industry, energy, agriculture and tourism. "The important role of the joint Russia-Egypt commission on trade, economic and scientific-technical cooperation in solving this problem was noted," the Russian MFA stressed.
In addition, Lavrov and Shoukry reviewed the implementation of large-scale investment projects, primarily the construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant El Dabaa and the creation of a Russian industrial zone in the economic zone of the Suez Canal.
"During the conversation, the importance of strengthening bilateral coordination between Moscow and Cairo at the UN and other international platforms on topical international and regional issues of mutual interest was expressed," the Russian ministry added.
A package of documents designed to solve the problem of food and fertilizer supplies to world markets was signed in Istanbul on July 22. The memorandum between Russia and the UN records that the world organization is joining the work to lift anti-Russian restrictions preventing the export of agricultural products and fertilizers. Another document outlines a mechanism for exporting grain from Ukrainian-controlled Black Sea ports. Agreements between Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations involve the creation of a four-party coordination center whose representatives will inspect vessels carrying grain to prevent arms smuggling and exclude provocations.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS