Turkey hails UN plan as feasible to avert food crisis

Turkey has hailed a UN plan with Ukraine and Russia to create a food corridor through the Black Sea in a bid to avert famine in the world's poorest countries as Ankara hosted a meeting between Turkish and Russian foreign ministers, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and Sergey Lavrov.

"There appeared some ideas for the export of Ukrainian grain to the international markets, such as the establishment of a mechanism by the UN, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey for the inspection of the vessels. We, as Turkey, see this plan as reasonable and implementable," Minister Çavuşoğlu told a press conference following the meeting with Lavrov in Ankara on June 8.

The two ministers held around a two-hour long meeting at a presidential office in the Turkish capital. The two men were accompanied by large delegations with the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and its consequences being top of the agenda.

More specifically, Çavuşoğlu and Lavrov discussed about a plan to allow around 22 million tons of grains to be exported to the markets so that the world does not suffer from a food crisis.

The UN is working on a mechanism for that to happen, but the consent of Russia and Ukraine are needed. Both countries have important conditions on which Turkey is trying to find ways to resolve.

"It will be beneficial to discuss the measures for the safe navigation of the vessels [carrying grain to the world]. We hope that technical preparations will be accomplished as soon as possible," Çavuşoğlu stated.

He also informed that Turkey proposed it can host a meeting in Istanbul to discuss the details of such a plan upon the suggestion by the UN.

Turkish minister called Russian demands for an end to sanctions to help grain onto the world market "legitimate." "If we need to...