Erdogan: Turkey looks forward to maintaining grain deal and providing food to Africa

ANKARA, 30 April – RIA Novosti. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey looks forward to maintaining the grain deal and providing food to needy countries in Africa.

“The positive atmosphere that was also present during the prisoner exchange with the leaders of Ukraine and Russia worked well in the grain corridor and we continue to do so. We look forward to the continuation of this mechanism that provides food to those in need. African countries,” Erdogan said in an interview with local television channels.

The grain agreement, signed by Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and UN representatives on July 22, 2022, includes the export of grain, food and fertilizer from Ukraine’s three ports, including Odessa, via the Black Sea. The coordination of ship traffic is carried out by the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out in September that the West exports most of Ukrainian grain to their own states, not to needy countries in Africa. Russia extended the agreement for 60 days from March 18, 2023 – until May 18, Ukraine insists that the agreement was extended by 120 days.

Formerly Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reconnection of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT; resumption of the supply of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services; lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance and lifting the ban on entry to ports; restoration of the work of the “Tolyatti-Odessa” ammonia pipeline; Unblocking of foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies involved in the production and transportation of food and fertilizer – not to mention the further expansion of the “Black Sea enterprise” after 18 May.