STORY: UN chief regrets Russia's decision to end Black Sea grain deal
DATELINE: July 18, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:46
LOCATION: UN headquarters
CATEGORY: POLITICS
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres walking to podium
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General
3. various of UN Headquarters
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General
 
STORYLINE:
 
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said he regretted Russia's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
 
Guterres made the remarks to reporters at UN headquarters in New York.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ANTONIO GUTERRES, UN Secretary-General
"Good morning. I deeply regret the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, including the withdrawal of Russian security guarantees for navigation in the northwestern part of the Black Sea."
 
Guterres pledged to continue facilitating food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General
"Today's decision by the Russian Federation will strike a blow to people in need everywhere. But it will not stop our efforts to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Looking ahead, our goal must continue to be advancing global food security and global food price stability. This will remain the focus of my efforts, taking into account the rise in human suffering that will inevitably result from today's decision. We will stay fixed on finding pathways for solutions. There is simply too much at stake in a hungry and hurting world."
 
Earlier Monday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain export deal just as it was set to expire.
 
"Unfortunately, the part of these Black Sea agreements that concerns Russia has not been implemented so far, so its effect is terminated," local media reported citing Peskov. Russia had been complaining that its demands to improve its own grain and fertilizer exports have not been met.
 
Peskov noted that the country will immediately return to the deal when the Russian part of the agreement is fulfilled.
 
Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which allowed Ukraine to export its grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports.
 
The initiative, which was initially valid for 120 days, was extended in mid-November 2022 for another 120 days until March 18, 2023.
 
Russia then agreed to extend the deal for only 60 days. On May 17, Russia agreed to extend the deal for another 60 days.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from UN Headquarters.
(XHTV)