Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu warned that failure to extend the global food agreement would drive up world prices. The remark was reported by the television channel 24tv.
“Of course prices will rise, so the agreement needs to be extended, otherwise the world will face rising prices,” Çavuşoğlu stated.
He argued that extending the deal would help every country, from wealthy economies to developing nations. He stressed the need for realism and acknowledged that the grain agreement cannot last indefinitely.
Farhan Haq, a former deputy spokesperson for the United Nations, noted that the UN has not yet received a reply to Secretary-General António Guterres’ letter requesting an extension of the grain deal with Russia. [Citation: UN Secretariat briefing, and 24tv coverage.]
Following discussions, on April 24, António Guterres sent a letter through Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to President Vladimir Putin with proposals to prolong the grain agreement. Similar messages were conveyed to the presidents of Türkiye and Ukraine. [Citation: UN communications and official statements.]