(VOVWORLD) -UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent letters to Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey expressing his concern over the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
 A ship carrying grain travels along the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 3, 2022. (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said on Friday that the UN is working closely with Turkey to ensure the continued implementation of this important agreement.
He also said that no ships were inspected on Tuesday under the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal as the parties needed more time to reach an agreement on operational priorities. Although the inspection was resumed the next day, there were dozens of ships waiting in line for their turn.
The Black Sea grain deal signed last July specifies that all ships are inspected by officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations in waters near Turkey on the way in and out of Ukraine.
On April 13, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that 28 ships carrying a total of more than 1 million tons of grain are being delayed because they have not been inspected by UN staff. The Russian side said the UN employee refused to schedule an inspection of the ships.
Russia has said it will only extend the deal beyond May 18 if there is progress in handling issues relating to transaction connection, equipment supply, and insurance.