New York (UN) March 18. INTERFAX - The UN confirmed the extension of the Black Sea grain initiative.
"The Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022, has been extended... We express our gratitude to the Turkish authorities for their diplomatic and operational support," reads the communique published on the UN website on Saturday.
"We continue to remain committed to the agreements and call on both sides to redouble their efforts for its comprehensive implementation," the document says.
"The Black Sea Grain Initiative, as well as the memorandum of understanding on the promotion of Russian food and fertilizers on world markets, are critically important for world food security, especially for developing countries," the communique emphasizes.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced the extension of the deal.
"The agreement on the grain corridor was supposed to expire today. Based on the results of negotiations with both sides, we have secured its extension," Erdogan said, speaking in the city of Canakkale in western Turkey.
At the same time, the Turkish president did not mention any deadlines, but the Turkish press, with reference to the statements of the Ukrainian side, reported that it was "about an extension for 120 days."
Earlier this week, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is extending the "grain deal" for 60 days.
Peskov said that the extension of the "grain deal" is a gesture of goodwill on the part of Russia, made in the hope of fulfilling agreements concerning the Russian Federation.
