Guterres pledges to continue contacts to lift obstacles to Russian food products reaching world markets

UNITED NATIONS, New York. Aug 24 (Interfax) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday promised to continue active contacts in a bid to ensure free access to world markets for Russian food and fertilizers.

"The other part of this package deal is the unimpeded access to global markets of Russian food and fertilizers, which are not subject to sanctions," Guterres said, speaking at a UN Security Council meeting.

"I will continue my intense contacts for that purpose," he said.

There is enough food in the world in general for this year, but the problem is uneven distribution, Guterres said. If fertilizer shipments are not secured this year, there will be food shortages in 2023, he said.