Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, stressed that the cooperative work on the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and at its core, the joint coordination centre that permits the safe movement of numerous merchant ships, is an example of what can be accomplished with political will, extensive operational experience, and group efforts.
According to the UN Information Center, Guterres described the ships he saw in the Sea of Marmara while touring the Joint Coordination Center as a wonderful and inspirational process, noting that what is taking place in Istanbul and Odessa is only the most obvious part of the solution and that the other part is this comprehensive agreement. … free access to international markets for non-sanctioned Russian food and fertiliser.
Guterres stressed the necessity of cooperation among all countries and the business sector, stressing that more than 650,000 metric tonnes of grain and other consumables are already en route to markets all over the world and that, without fertiliser in 2022, there might not be enough food in 2023.
The Secretary-General reiterated the significance of obtaining more food and fertilisers from Ukraine and Russia in order to further calm commodity markets and lower consumer prices after touring Odessa and observing a shipment of wheat on board the ship, which he saw as a shipment of hope for many people around the world.
During his visit to Ukraine, Guterres emphasised that the UN will continue to work in complete solidarity with the Ukrainian people, mobilising all resources and capabilities in partnership with national partners to deliver humanitarian aid to those in need as needed, and that the positive momentum on the food front reflects the victory of diplomacy and pluralism.
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Guterres: The group effort in the “grain” programme is an example of what political will can accomplish.
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