G20 welcomes grain deal, including Russian grain, fertilizer exports - declaration

HONG KONG. Nov 16 (Interfax) - The G20 believes that the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which envisages exports of Russian and Ukrainian grain and fertilizers, plays an important role in the provision of stability in developing countries, says the final declaration of the G20 summit in Bali.

"We welcome the Turkey and UN-brokered two Istanbul agreements signed on July 22, 2022 [...] on the unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from Ukraine and the Russian Federation, to ease tension and prevent global food insecurity and hunger in developing countries," the declaration said.

The G20 emphasizes the importance of the deal's full, timely and continued implementation by all interested sides and noted that Russian donations of fertilizers were facilitated by the World Food Program.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said on Tuesday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the situation with Russian food exports and the Black Sea Grain Initiative on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali.

Lavrov said earlier on Tuesday he was told by Guterres that the commitment to lift the restrictions on Russian fertilizer and grain exports would be honored.