Russia's deputy FM, UNCTAD head, UN under sec gen meet to discuss situation around Istanbul Agreements

MOSCOW. Sept 21 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin has held consultations with Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebecca Grynspan and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations Martin Griffiths.

Vershinin, Grynspan and Griffiths met on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in New York. "There was an extensive exchange of views on the current situation around the Istanbul Agreements after the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative for exporting Ukrainian foodstuffs," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its website on Thursday.

"The Russian side again highlighted the need to fully implement the provisions of the Russia-UN Memorandum on normalizing [Russian] agricultural exports, in terms of ensuring unimpeded shipments of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products to global markets, which have been made more complicated following the introduction of illegal unilateral sanctions," it said.

Vershinin discussed separately with Griffiths the provision of comprehensive support to Syria "in conformity with international humanitarian laws and the Humanitarian Principles set forth in UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182, with an emphasis on the problems of establishing unimpeded access to all those in need," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.