World needs Russia grain regardless of states' attitude to Moscow: WFP
The WFP executive director insists that "whether you love or hate Russia, we need Russian grain and fertilizer around the world. Otherwise a whole world will pay a price."
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David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP)
All nations must cooperate in implementing the grain deal since the world needs Russian grain and fertilizers, whether other countries "love or hate Russia," David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), told RIA Novosti.
"This deal is crucial. Everybody has to cooperate, everybody has a role to play here. I don't care whether you love or hate Russia, we need Russian grain and fertilizer around the world. Otherwise, a whole world will pay a price," the WFP executive director said on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum.
WFP is doing whatever possible to ensure the continuity and extension of the grain deal, Beasley added.
In the same context, Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra told Sputnik on Friday that Russian agriculture products under the grain deal should not be subjected to sanctions and other restrictions.
"Everything related to food issues should not be subject to sanctions or other restrictions. It is necessary to promote the supply of food products, especially grain, as it is a necessary component for the sustenance of a large number of people," Lamamra said, commenting on the restrictions imposed on Russian gran and fertilizers.
Everything should be done with the aim to extend the grain deal, which expires in the coming week, according to the minister.
"We count on the goodwill of all parties in this matter to successfully implement this necessary initiative," Lamamra added.
Read: Grain deal to be extended, possibly even expanded: UN Coordinator
The UN-brokered deal, signed by Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine on July 22, was set to expire on November 19. It established a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships transporting food and fertilizer from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports.
On October 29, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russia was withdrawing its participation from the deal following Ukraine’s drone attack on vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.
It was reported that over 200 ships that were intended to export grains remained stuck as a result of that suspension.
Earlier this month, in a meeting with permanent members of the security council, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Russian Defense Ministry was instructed to resume its engagement in the grain deal.
Yet, Russia remains cautious to withdraw its commitments if Kiev breaches the guarantees it provided earlier in the day about the non-use of the grain corridors for military purposes.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that resuming the UN-brokered grain deal is a diplomatic achievement.
