The African Union (AU) welcomed on Saturday the agreement signed by Russia and Ukraine with the UN and Turkey for unblocking grain exports, o „welcome development” for this continent faced with an acute risk of famine, reports AFP.
This agreement is „Answer” during the June visit to Russia of the Senegalese head of state Macky Sall, acting president of the EU, and Moussa Faki, president of the AU commission, who emphasized in the discussion with Vladimir Putin „the urgency of the return of grain from Ukraine and Russia to world markets”the organization emphasized in a statement.
The agreement signed on Friday in Istanbul by Russia and Ukraine provides for the creation of „color safe” that would allow the circulation of commercial ships in the Black Sea, on which Moscow and Kiev are engaged „not to attack them”indicated a UN official.
UN officials said they hoped preliminary shipments would begin as soon as Saturday, with the hope of reaching pre-war levels from the three Ukrainian ports, a rate of 5 million tonnes of grain per month. The agreement will be valid for 120 days but is renewable and is not expected to be terminated anytime soon.
“The AU reiterates the call for an immediate ceasefire agreement and the opening of new political negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations, in the interest of world peace and stability”the press release quoted by Agerpres also shows.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, two countries that together provide 30% of the world’s wheat exports, led to a sharp increase in the prices of grain, oil, and fertilizers.
Call it the theme „a hurricane of hunger”especially in African countries that import more than half of their wheat needs from Ukraine or Russia.
The Horn of Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti), in particular, is facing the worst drought in the last 40 years, and at least 18 million people are affected by hunger.
The agreement signed on Friday in Istanbul by Russia and Ukraine provides for the creation of „color safe” that would allow the circulation of commercial ships in the Black Sea, on which Moscow and Kiev are engaged „not to attack them”indicated a UN official.
UN officials said they hoped preliminary shipments would begin as soon as Saturday, with the hope of reaching pre-war levels from the three Ukrainian ports, a rate of 5 million tonnes of grain per month. The agreement will be valid for 120 days but is renewable and is not expected to be terminated anytime soon.
Source: www.tylaz.net
