UN to continue doing everything possible to ensure continuity of Grain Initiative – UN OCHA Spokesperson

KYIV. March 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The United Nations remains totally committed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its continuity, United Nations OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Spokesperson, Head of Communications Saviano Abreu has said.

"The agreement is too important to fall. It is important to the people of Ukraine, to the farmers battered by this war, and to the world. The impact of Black Sea Grain Initiative in lowering global food prices is clear and according to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), these prices have been going down since the first vessel left the Odesa port in August last year. And this is why the UN will continue doing everything possible to preserve the integrity of the agreement and ensure its continuity," Abreu said in his comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Tuesday.

OCHA reiterated that the United Nations remains fully committed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and stands for its continuity.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister, Restoration Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said that the agreement on the Grain Initiative, provides for a minimum of 120 days of extension, so Russia’s position to extend the agreement only for 60 days contradicts the document signed by Turkey and the UN.

“We are waiting for the official position of the UN and Turkey as guarantors of the initiative,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.