Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that he intends to hold telephone talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on his return from the G20 summit in Bali. He also told reporters after the summit that he expects to extend the grain deal, which expires November 19, by a year.
"We are in constant contact with Putin, there are no problems. We will discuss the issue of the supply of fertilizers and agricultural products after my return. We are making efforts to extend the grain deal for a year and we expect success," Erdogan said.
According to the Turkish president, about 11 million tons of agricultural products were exported from Ukrainian ports as part of the implementation of the grain deal. "We continue our efforts in this direction," Erdogan said, drawing attention to the need to deliver food first to countries in need.
The Turkish president also noted that the food and energy crisis that erupted in the world against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict "does not hit individual regions, but all countries." Turkey, Erdogan added, is making the necessary efforts to overcome the food crisis.
On July 22, a package of documents was signed in Istanbul to solve the problem of food and fertilizer supplies to the world markets. A memorandum between Russia and the United Nations envisages the involvement of the world organization in lifting anti-Russian restrictions hindering exports of agricultural products and fertilizers. Another document specifies a mechanism for exporting grain from Kiev-controlled Black Sea ports. The Joint Coordination Center created by Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN in Istanbul is designed to inspect vessels with grain in order to prevent arms smuggling and exclude provocations.
On October 29, Russia announced the suspension of its participation in the grain deal after Ukrainian drones attacked ships and civilian vessels in Sevastopol involved in securing a corridor for grain carriers. On November 2, Russia decided to resume its participation in the agreement after Ukraine, mediated by the UN and Turkey, guaranteed in writing that it would not use the security corridor in the Black Sea for military purposes.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
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Based on materials from TASS