Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hegseth in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart: Washington will continue to defend its interests vigorously
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: The United States is concerned about China's activities in the South China Sea
Occupied Palestine: Israeli occupation forces demolishe residential homes east of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border

UN focused on removing obstacles to grain deal payments: Spokesperson

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Mar 2023 20:49
3 Min Read

The initial 120-day agreement was extended once in November and was due to expire on March 18.

  • x
  • The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City. (Reuters)
    The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City (Reuters)

United Nations Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric acknowledged, on Tuesday, the UN-brokered grain exports agreement, previously known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is still facing payment hindrances, stressing the United Nations is making every effort to remove those obstacles.

During a press briefing, he said, "Meaningful progress has been made but it is true that some obstacles remain, notably with regard to payment systems. Our efforts to overcome those obstacles will continue unabated."

He went on to say that the initiative is meant to be renewed for 120 days but at this moment, and the focus of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is to ensure its continuity.

A flashback

After talks with the United Nations on Monday, Russia decided to extend the Ukrainian grain export deal for another 60 days only.

Moscow stated it wanted to witness "tangible progress" on a parallel agreement on Russian exports before the deal comes up for renewal again.

It is worth noting that the grain export deal has helped ease the global food crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine and the Western sanctions against Russia.

Related News

Russia prioritizes nuclear war prevention at 2026 UN disarmament meet

Russia resumes flights to Hmeimim Air Base in Syria

According to the UN, more than 24.1 million tonnes of grain have been exported through the UN and Turkey-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).

The initial 120-day agreement was extended once in November and was due to expire on March 18.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said, after concluding the talks with top United Nations officials at the Palais des Nations UN headquarters in Geneva, that Moscow wants to see deeds, not words on upholding this second part of the package.

"The Russian side ... does not object to another extension of the 'Black Sea Initiative' after its second term expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days," Vershinin said in a statement issued by the Russian mission in Geneva.

"Our further stance will be determined upon the tangible progress on normalization of our agricultural exports, not (in) words, but in deeds, It includes bank payments, transport logistics, insurance, 'unfreezing' of financial activities and ammonia supplies via the Tolyatti-Odessa pipeline," he added.

Vershinin headed the Russian delegation in talks with UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths and Rebeca Grynspan, head of the UN's trade and development agency UNCTAD.

While the BSGI is concerned with the export of Ukrainian grain, the second agreement, reached between Moscow and the United Nations, is meant to enable the export of Russian food and fertilizer, which are free from Western sanctions placed on Moscow.

"The comprehensive and frank conversation has once again confirmed that while the commercial export of Ukrainian products is carried out at a steady pace, bringing considerable profits to Kiev, restrictions on the Russian agricultural exporters are still in place," Vershinin said.

"The sanctions exemptions for food and fertilizers announced by Washington, Brussels, and London are essentially inactive," he noted.

According to UN figures, about half of the BSGI exports are corn, and more than a quarter are wheat.

  • Russia
  • Grain deal
  • UN Chief
  • Ukraine

Most Read

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025
Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with Al-Manar TV, October 26, 2025 (Screenshot)

Hezbollah ready to face 'Israel' in case of war: Sheikh Naim Qassem

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
ap
Politics

Hamas calls on int’l community to act against Israeli settlement plan

In this Nov. 9, 2017, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (AP)
Economy

Ex-US diplomat says Trump-Xi deal 'tactical retreat', not lasting deal

An unarmed Minuteman II intercontinental ballistic missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, during a test in 2002. (US Air Force)
Politics

JD Vance defends Trump's nuclear test plan as 'crucial for security'

Ultra-Orthodox Jews attend the "million man" protest against military conscription, in occupied al-Quds, October 30, 2025 (AFP)
Politics

Haredi mass rally in al-Quds exposes Zionist regime's growing crisis

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS