UKRAINE: Black Sea Grain Initiative – More grain shipments to leave Ukraine – Analysis
UKRAINE: Black Sea Grain Initiative – More grain shipments to leave Ukraine – Analysis
Posted By: GEO´ Newsteam – Gibraltar
GEOPoliticalMatters.com
The Ukrainian World Congress has reported on their blog that the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure has announced that three more ships have been given authorisation to leave Ukraine’s Black Sea ports on Friday, carrying just over 58,000 tons of corn, in a move that will raise hopes further for the success of a UN initiative aimed at lowering prices of essential foods and easing the global crisis.
The announcement said “The Razoni bulk carrier loaded with Ukrainian corn left the Odessa port the day before yesterday and is heading to the port of Tripoli in Lebanon”. Its stop in the territorial waters of Türkiye is connected with the next stage of the implementation of the ‘Grain Initiative’ recently signed in Istanbul, namely the inspection of the vessel for prohibited cargo.
“This is the first vessel that goes along the ‘grain corridor’ agreed with the UN and Türkiye. Thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and port services, Razoni passed safely its way to the Bosphorus, where it was inspected by representatives of the JCC. On the example of Razoni ship all the necessary control and coordination measures between Ukraine and the signatory partners – the UN and Türkiye – are being finalized and worked out.”
“As for any inspections in Ukrainian ports or territorial waters, our position is unchanged – such control remains exclusively with us. No inspection groups, no reviews by third parties,” according to Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov.
Mr Kubrakov added “At the same time, applications are being accepted for the entry of new vessels to Ukrainian ports for loading agricultural products. Currently, 17 vessels have already been loaded and are awaiting permission to leave the port.”
The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) which is managing the Black Sea Grain Initiative, agreed between the UN, Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye, has authorized the departure of three vessels – two from the port of Chornomorsk and one from Odessa, carrying a total of 58,041 tons of corn through the designated “maritime humanitarian corridor”.
The grain deal facilitated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres following the Russian invasion, amidst concerns over the blockade of Ukraine’s valuable food exports via the Black Sea, was signed between the parties on 22 July, in Istanbul.
The JCC announced five days later, was established in order to realize the Initiative, and the first commercial shipment took place just on Wednesday, when the Razoni was cleared to leave, bound for the Lebanese port of Tripoli …
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