\n<\/p>\n
Russia announced earlier that it would agree to a\u00a060-day extension<\/strong>, which is half the number of days agreed when it first expired in November.<\/p>\n The UN-brokered deal also endorsed by T\u00fcrkiye in Istanbul – which includes a Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the UN to facilitate fertiliser exports –\u00a0has allowed the exports of 24 million Metric Tonnes of grain,<\/strong>\u00a0and over 1,600 secure vessel voyages through the Black Sea, with\u00a055 per cent of food exports going to developing countries<\/strong>, said a\u00a0note released to journalists\u00a0in Geneva.<\/p>\n The press statement came following talks with a high-level Russian delegation on Monday at the UN in Geneva involving the top UN officials who facilitated the deal on behalf of Secretary-General\u00a0Ant\u00f3nio Guterres; Trade and Development chief Rebeca Grynspan, and relief chief, Martin Griffiths.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UN Secretary-General has confirmed that\u00a0the UN will do everything possible to preserve the integrity<\/strong>\u00a0of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and\u00a0ensure its continuity<\/strong>\u201d, the Note to Correspondents said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UN\u2019s support to the agreements made in Istanbul is part of the global response to the most severe cost-of-living crisis in a generation.\u201d<\/p>\n The UN Secretary-General expressed that the UN \u201cremains fully committed<\/strong>\u00a0to the Black Sea Grain Initiative,\u00a0as well as to efforts to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizer<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n The FAO Food Price Index covering a basket of staple foods has now dropped for 10 consecutive months since reaching record high levels in March last year, \u201cclearly demonstrating the positive impact of both agreements on global food prices\u201d, the statement continued.<\/p>\n The UN said it\u00a0noted the announcement<\/strong>\u00a0made regarding an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for 60 days by Russia.<\/p>\n The two agreements have also had a \u201cpositive impact on global food security\u201d, with millions of tons of grain reaching global markets, to alleviate the supply chain crisis stemming largely from Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u201cThe continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative is crucial for global food security<\/strong>, as grain and fertilizer prices and availability have not returned to pre-war levels,\u00a0causing hardship particularly in developing countries<\/strong>\u201d, the statement concluded.<\/p>\nTalks with Russia<\/strong><\/h2>\n
UN committed to agreements<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\u2018Positive impact on global food security\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n