Russia welcomes lifting of European Commission restrictions on Russian fertilizer supplies, but ban on supplies to Asia, Africa, Latin America unacceptable - Putin

MOSCOW. Sept 9 (Interfax) - Russia welcomes the lifting of restrictions on supplies of Russian fertilizer, but considers unacceptable the ban on supplies to countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"We know also that the European Commission has unblocked supplies of Russian fertilizers, has lifted sanctions. We welcome such decisions," Putin said at a meeting with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council.

"A European Commission clarification on this issue came out on August 10. It turns out that only European Union countries may buy our fertilizers. Supplies of our fertilizers and those of Belarus through the ports of European countries to developing countries, to the markets of Asia, Africa, and Latin America are still banned. This discriminates against our partners," he said.

Putin asked the Foreign Ministry "to work with partners in general and with the UN, which has gotten involved in solving issues of a similar nature."

"I believe that discrimination against the countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America is unacceptable," Putin said.

"We, of course, will consider the proposals of our European partners on fertilizer supplies to them, but issues concerning fertilizer supplies to other countries need to be resolved, as well," he said.

Putin also asked the Foreign Ministry to support supplies of Belarusian fertilizers.