The European Union and NATO have also welcomed the grain shipment departure from Ukraine as a "first step" towards easing the global food crisis.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has thanked Türkiye for its efforts and leadership as a nascent deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine saw its first ship depart from the port of Odessa.
The departure of the Sierra Leone-flagged dry cargo ship Razoni marked an "important starting point" for the agreement, Guterres said on Monday.
"It must be the first of many commercial ships bringing relief and stability to global food markets," he added.
"Today's departure is an enormous collective achievement by the Joint Coordination Center, set up last week in Istanbul under United Nations auspices, with representatives from Ukraine, the Russian Federation, and Türkiye," the UN chief told reporters.
"Ensuring that grain, fertilisers, and other food-related items are available at reasonable prices to developing countries is a humanitarian imperative. People on the verge of famine need these agreements to work in order to survive," he said.
Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul to inspect all grain ships leaving Ukraine to ensure they aren't carrying any weapons pic.twitter.com/qacaoMhgwn
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) August 1, 2022
The Razoni is due to arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday for an inspection under the historic Ankara-brokered agreement to facilitate grain and foodstuff exports. The vessel is bound for the Lebanese port of Tripoli in the country's north.
Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed a deal on July 22 to reopen three Ukrainian ports — Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny — for grain that has been stuck for months because of ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which is now in its sixth month.
READ MORE: Türkiye inaugurates Joint Coordination Centre for Ukraine grain exports
First shipment welcomed
The European Union and NATO welcomed the grain shipment's departure as a "first step" towards easing the food crisis.
The agreements signed by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey & @UN are a critical step in overcoming the global food insecurity caused by Russia‘s aggression against Ukraine.
EU remains committed to help #Ukraine bring as much of its grain into global markets as possible.
Full Statement: https://t.co/fAC3vuh7nY
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) July 22, 2022
EU spokesperson Peter Stano, however, cautions the bloc still expects the "implementation of the whole deal and resumption of Ukrainian exports to the customers around the world."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said, Western allies "strongly support the full implementation of the deal to ease the global food crisis caused by Russia's war in Ukraine".
"I thank our Ally #Türkiye for its pivotal role," he continued in a tweet.
I welcome the 1st shipment of Ukrainian grain from Odesa under the @UN-brokered deal. I thank our Ally #Türkiye for its pivotal role. #NATO Allies strongly support the full implementation of the deal to ease the global food crisis caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) August 1, 2022
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter that the first grain ship has left, adding: "Thanks to the support of all our partner countries & @UN we were able to full implement the Agreement signed in Istanbul."
The first 🇺🇦 grain ship since #RussianAggression has left port. Thanks to the support of all our partner countries & @UN we were able to full implement the Agreement signed in Istanbul. It’s important for us to be one of the guarantors of 🌏 food security. pic.twitter.com/jOz3bdmdfB
— Oleksandr Kubrakov (@OlKubrakov) August 1, 2022
Russia, for its part, said the first grain ship to leave Odessa was "very positive" news.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he hoped the agreement will be implemented by all sides.
"This is a good opportunity to test the implementation of the agreements that were agreed upon at the Istanbul talks," Peskov said.
READ MORE: First shipment of Ukraine grain leaves Odessa under Türkiye-brokered deal
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Source https://www.globalcourant.com/un-lauds-turkiye-for-its-leadership-role-in-ukraine-grain-export-deal/?feed_id=5258&_unique_id=62e8176a2460c
