ISTANBUL, July 19 (Xinhua) -- While the global concerns over food insecurity grow, Istanbul is preparing to host the second round of talks in anticipation of a solid outcome regarding the safe transport of Ukrainian grain to international markets.

The first round of negotiations among military delegations of Türkiye, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as representatives of the United Nations concluded last week with an agreement on the basic principles of the shipment process through the Black Sea.

According to Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, the efforts to turn the outcomes of the meeting into a concrete implementation plan will continue, and a second meeting is likely this week.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Iran's capital Tehran on Tuesday to discuss the efforts to resume shipments from Ukraine.

"The approach of the Russian delegation during the last Istanbul meeting was very positive. The outcome of the talks will have a positive impact on the whole world," Erdogan was quoted as saying by Türkiye's state-run Anadolu agency.

Anadolu said Erdogan's remarks came in a brief statement with Putin for the media on Tuesday before their one-on-one meeting ahead of a summit of leaders from the guarantor states of the Astana process, which was established to find a peaceful settlement in the Syrian crisis.

Burak Kuntay, an academic from Beykoz University in Istanbul, said the meeting between the Turkish and Russian leaders came at a very important time when the world has been facing a growing threat of food insecurity.

An estimated 20 million tons of grain are waiting at ports in Ukraine due to the protracted crisis in this country, Anadolu earlier reported. The shipment suspensions have caused significant increases in food prices with growing concerns over a global food shortage.

Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said the price hikes hit 60 percent in many African countries, putting significant pressure on their fragile economies.

European countries, which have suffered significantly from the cuts, are waiting for a positive outcome from the meeting in Istanbul, demanding the reopening of the ports for grain shipments.

Senior journalist Mehmet Celik told Xinhua that "it is a positive step that there is a willingness to solve this issue and all sides are able to meet," but he saved his reservation for an immediate result on the ground as it might take some time.

Türkiye controls maritime traffic to and from the Black Sea through its Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul. Ankara has long been playing a mediating role, seeking ways to establish a mechanism that would allow Ukraine to export its grains safely.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Ukraine is among the top net exporters of wheat and grain products, upon which many developing nations rely. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)