Many countries, including the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU), appraised Ankara for its commitment to extending the Black Sea Grain Initiative in line with the decision taken between Türkiye, the United Nations (UN), the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
Türkiye continues to play an active role in global grain shipment, interrupted by the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The grain shipment agreement, carried out under the coordination of Ankara for the solution of the global food crisis, was signed in İstanbul on July 22, under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, between Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye and the UN.
In his statement yesterday, President Erdoğan noted that the Black Sea Grain Initiative had been extended for 120 days beginning November 19, in accordance with the resolution taken as a result of the quadrilateral talks hosted by Türkiye.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on his Twitter account that the agreement was possible thanks to Türkiye's commitment following the extension of the agreement signed between Russia and Ukraine under the mediation of Türkiye and the UN.
UN Secretary-General Guterres thanked President Erdoğan and Türkiye and said, "Without their generosity and commitment, this initiative would never have been born. İstanbul remains the centre of a remarkable diplomatic achievement."
Statements of satisfaction by EU leaders
The EU expressed its satisfaction with the extension of the Black Sea Initiative.
The statement made by the office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasised that the agreement is vital to continue to drive global food prices down and ensure food security worldwide and added: "The EU underlines the efforts of the United Nations and Türkiye to ensure the continuation of the Black Sea grain initiative."
The statement indicated that 25 million tons of grain and other agricultural products were exported via the Black Sea route and the land routes that the EU called "solidarity lanes".
The statement added, "Food can never be used as a weapon of war" and pointed out that Russia deliberately targeted agricultural facilities and export routes in Ukraine, and therefore food prices increased.
In a post shared on her Twitter account, President of the EU Commission Von der Leyen stated that she welcomed the agreement on the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and congratulated UN Secretary-General Guterres and President Erdoğan.
President of the EU Commission Von der Leyen stated that together with EU Solidarity Lanes, the UN Black Sea Grain Initiative helps avoid global food shortages and bring down food prices despite Russia's war.
President of the European Council Charles Michel underlined that with 10 million tonnes of grain already exported under this initiative from Ukraine, this is good news for a world that badly needs access to grain and fertilisers.
President of Ukraine Zelensky thanks President Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General Guterres
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked President Erdoğan and Guterres for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
In his video message shared on his Telegram account, Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that the shipment of grain products through the Black Sea would continue and added, "Despite all difficulties and various manipulations by Russia, we will continue to export agricultural products from our Black Sea ports."
Expressing that thanks to the grain initiative, nearly 11 million tons of food products have been exported from the port of Odesa region of Ukraine with more than 450 ships since August 1, Zelensky said, "We have done everything to improve this transaction, and I thank all our partners who assisted. I would like to personally thank the UN Secretary-General Guterres, Türkiye and President Erdoğan."
"It was made possible by praiseworthy action of Türkiye"
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressing its satisfaction with the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, stated that the agreement was made possible with the praiseworthy action of Türkiye.
In a post shared on the official Twitter account, the Ministry stated, "Italy welcomes the achievement of an agreement on the extension of the Black Sea grain export deal. It Is key for world food security, and it is the result of a tireless UN diplomatic effort and praiseworthy action of Türkiye."
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama also welcomed the continuation of the agreement and congratulated President Erdoğan and Guterres.
Albanian Prime Minister Rama, in a post on Twitter, said:
"Albania welcomes the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This important food supply line remains vital to the world. I congratulate Türkiye, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for their continued strong determination. Diplomacy is always the best way to find solutions."
Qatar, the UAE, and Bahrain praised the UN and Türkiye
Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain praised the efforts of Türkiye and the UN regarding the extension of the agreement.
In a written statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, it was stated that the extension of the agreement on the shipment of grain from the Black Sea to 120 days was welcomed, and hoped that the grain shipment would alleviate the food crisis in the world.
It was stated that Qatar praised all the efforts made by the UN and Türkiye in this process.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed their satisfaction with the extension of the agreement on the delivery of grain shipments from Ukrainian ports.
In the statement, which expressed that the intense efforts of Türkiye and the UN were praised, it was pointed out that the 4-month period paved the way for the export of grain products from Ukraine and Russia via the Black Sea would help to eliminate the food deficits in the world.
In the statement made by the Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the efforts of Türkiye and the UN regarding the extension of the agreement were praised.
The statement, which underlined that the extension of the grain agreement for four months would contribute to easing the burden of the countries with food shortages, also included the wish for Russia and Ukraine to end the war by starting the direct negotiation process without preconditions.