Sergei Lavrov assures Arab countries from Cairo about grain exports

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Russia received assurances that Western sanctions would not be applied directly or indirectly to its exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sought to appear reassuring to his Arab partners in Cairo today after agreeing on “safe corridors” for grain exports from Ukraine and Russia aimed at averting the specter of famine, particularly in Africa. .

“We have confirmed the commitment of Russian exporters of grain products to fulfill all their obligations,” Sergei Lavrov said during a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.

“(Russian) President Vladimir Putin also underlined this during a recent telephone conversation with Egyptian President (Abdel Fattah) al-Sisi,” continued Lavrov, who will travel next week to Uganda, Ethiopia and Congo .

The agreement signed on Friday in Istanbul between Moscow and Kiev, under the auspices of the UN, provides for “safe corridors” for the movement of commercial ships in the Black Sea.

Russia received assurances that Western sanctions would not be applied directly or indirectly to its exports of agricultural products and fertilizers.

“The (UN) secretary-general has taken responsibility for lifting these illegal restrictions taken by the United States and the European Union against Russian supply chains and [ρωσικής] economy,” Lavrov said in Cairo.

“The so-called food crisis, which is always blatantly attributed to Russia, is a false story,” he told representatives of the 22-nation Arab League, based in Cairo, later today. “It’s like the food crisis started the day we started our special military operation in Ukraine,” he added.

For Lavrov, “the crisis was exacerbated by illegal Western sanctions against Russia.”

Dependent on Russian grain or arms, most Arab capitals have so far not taken sides on the conflict in Ukraine, careful not to displease Moscow without turning against the United States, which backs Kyiv.

Before the Arab League, Lavrov praised “balanced, fair and responsible positions” and called for a summit “as soon as possible” with Arab foreign ministers as well as another with African countries in mid-2023.

RES-EMP

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