Alternative to grain corridor route across Danube risky: Source
4 Min Read
A source tells Sputnik that Ankara warned its Western partners of the risks of a sharp increase in prices of agricultural products in the event of escalation in the Black Sea.
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A combine harvests wheat on a field near Novosofiivka village, Mykolaiv region, on July 4, 2023 (AFP)
Ankara and the United Nations have been briefed on an alternative route to the grain corridor across the Danube, and Turkey has voiced its concerns in discussions and warned of risks in the context of ongoing conflict, a source participating in the negotiations told Sputnik.
Earlier, Reuters cited a US State Department senior official as saying that the United States was working with Romania and Moldova to boost exports of Ukrainian grain through the Danube.
The official indicated that the US would try to double the volume of Ukrainian grain passing through the Danube corridor, adding that Washington supports the efforts of Ankara and the UN to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Moscow pulled out in July from the UN-backed grain agreement that Turkey helped broker, saying the previous agreement imposed indirect restrictions on its grain and fertilizer exports by limiting Russia's access to global payment systems and insurance.
Both Ukraine and Russia have since laid plans to start shipping grain outside the framework of the deal.
Here's how the #UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal was ignoring the poor countries. pic.twitter.com/FD2X6m0tpx
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 22, 2023
"We are briefed about this project and the discussions around it. But we immediately said that any alternative routes are risky, and there are great concerns, especially now, when we see the escalation of tensions in the Black Sea region," the source pointed out.
"The position of Turkey is that the 'grain deal' should be resumed in its original form, and work is being done in this direction," the source added.
Read more: Still no dates set for purported talks on Grain Deal: Sources
In a related context, the source confirmed that Ankara has warned its Western partners during discussions of the risks of a sharp increase in prices of agricultural products in the event of escalation in the Black Sea region.
When asked about ongoing discussions on the risks of an increase in the prices of agricultural products, the source pointed out that "the risks are very high now when we see an escalation of tensions in the region through which agricultural products are shipped."
"The efforts of Turkey and the UN, among others, are aimed at preventing a food crisis and eliminating the risks of hunger in the countries in need."
Touching on Russia's return to the grain deal, the sources told Sputnik that the new package of proposals on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, made by Turkey and the United Nations, does not guarantee Russia's return to the deal, adding that there is a lot of work to be done to overcome obstacles to Russian agricultural exports.
After his Thursday meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed that in cooperation with the UN, Ankara has prepared new proposals regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative for its resumption.
Lavrov repeated Russia's position that it will return to the deal once its demands are met.
"Everything rests on the fact that the West is hindering the solution of problems that prevent a more active export of Russian grain and fertilizer," Moscow's top diplomat said.
US Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said on Thursday that he had sent concrete solutions to Lavrov about more effective access of Russian products to global markets as part of his efforts to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
"In the media and some discussions, we see statements that these new proposals can guarantee Russia's return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This is a false vision, as there is a lot of work to be done to remove all obstacles to the export of Russian agricultural products and meet the expectations [of Moscow]," the source said.
When asked about Russia's position in the negotiations on the resumption of the grain deal, the source said it is very principled.
"The Russian side requires guarantees," he said, while not providing any details about the negotiation process.
Read more: Putin-Erdogan dialogue holds key to grain deal's fate
