Türkiye will proceed to play a “critical leadership role in advocating for global food security,” U.S. Ambassador Jeffry Flake mentioned Tuesday, citing its negotiation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).
“The BSGI has alleviated suffering and hunger around the world. The American people extend their thanks to Türkiye, the United Nations, and all other countries working to ensure that the world has enough food to eat,” Flake wrote in an op-ed printed by the U.S. embassy’s web site.
“The success of the BSGI not only demonstrated the crucial role that Türkiye plays in world events, but also Türkiye’s willingness to stand up and do what’s right for the global community,” he mentioned.
“During my tenure as the U.S. Ambassador in Türkiye, I have seen the importance of Türkiye’s global leadership, including the negotiation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
“Brokered between Türkiye, Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations, this settlement ensured a few of the most susceptible individuals on earth had entry to meals,” he added.
Since the first ship sailed in August last year, nearly 33 million metric tons of Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs have been delivered to global markets, Flake said.
He said that 65% of those agricultural products went to developing countries, supporting global food security and stability.
Russia suspended its participation in the BSGI on July 17 this year. The deal was signed in July 2022 following mediation by the UN and Türkiye in a bid to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports that had been placed under a blockade by Russia after it began its war in February of that year.
“The BSGI could be pointless have been it not for (Russian) President Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine,” Flake said. “This is a battle waged on harmless civilians with egregious disregard for human life, together with concentrating on kids and committing atrocious battle crimes like sexual assault, torture and extrajudicial executions.”
“Estimates point out that over 1 / 4 of one million Ukrainian kids have been kidnapped; forcibly separated from their households earlier than being put up for adoption in Russia,” he added.
He also blamed Putin for “weaponizing meals” and said he “has unfold struggling far past Ukraine’s borders, extending starvation to the creating world, the place it will likely be felt most acutely.”
“Russia’s actions place tens of millions in danger,” he said. “Moscow’s withdrawal from the BSGI; its assaults towards Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, together with grain terminals within the Black Sea and on the Danube; and its aggression towards civilian visitors within the Black Sea needlessly exacerbate meals insecurity all over the world.”
Flake said that Moscow’s “excuses for withdrawing are simply that, excuses; their fertilizer exports and their grain exports have been at or close to all-time highs whereas the BSGI was in impact.”
“Russia’s choice to desert the BSGI raises the worth it receives for its meals exports, growing its revenue whereas forcing the remainder of the world to grapple with larger meals costs and exposing probably the most susceptible to even larger danger of going hungry,” he mentioned.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
