Source The United Nations
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – Answering questions to reporters in Ukraine’s Odesa port on Friday (19 Aug), Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The International agency of Atomic Energy is an autonomous agency that has a very clear mandate and that has a board. So, it is for the IAEA to decide how and when and how to develop an inspection or a visit or a presence in Zaporizhzhia.”
In a press conference along with Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, the UN chief said the UN Secretariat has in Ukraine the capacity, logistic and the security capacity to support the IAEA, if that is required to move from Kiyv to Zaporizhzhia. He added, “But decisions in relation to these are decisions of the IAEA, naturally, with the consent of the parties, obviously with the consent of the Ukrainian government too.”
The Secretary General told reporters, “It is moving to be here in Odesa and it is especially meaningful to be here on World Humanitarian Day. For months, this port was paralyzed. Ships like those here were within minutes of sailing fully loaded with grains and other cargo. These vessels were ordered back.A critical transportation line from a global breadbasket was cut.”
He added, “The Black Sea Grain Initiative is changing that. In less than a month, 25 ships have departed from Odesa and other Ukrainian ports loaded with grain and other food supplies. With more on their way, as the minister has explained. They have carried well over 600,000 tons of food products and counting. Wheat. Corn. Sunflower oil. Soya beans. But each ship is also a vessel of hope. Hope for Ukrainian farmers finally rewarded for their harvest – with storage being freed up for more. Hope for seafarers and the larger shipping community, knowing that it is once again possible to sail through the Black Sea safely and efficiently. And, most of all, hope for the world’s most vulnerable people and countries.”
Guterres also said, “Here from Odesa on World Humanitarian Day, I want to make a special appeal to the wealthier world for those bearing the brunt of the global food crisis. As these ports open, I appeal for wealthier countries to also open their wallets and their hearts. After all, the movement of grains doesn’t mean much to countries that cannot afford it. Lower prices on the global food markets don’t mean much if those prices aren’t reflected in local food markets. A country cannot feed itself if it is starved for resources.”
Guterres noted that Odesa was “more than just a shipping centre.” He said, “This port is a symbol of what the world can do when we commit to working together for the common good. The Ukrainian people has been suffering so much. They have witnessed so many deaths, so much destruction that it is legitimate to aspire for peace.”
He emphasized, “ But again, I repeat peace in line with UN Charter, peace in line with international law. That is the best way to mark World Humanitarian Day and help set the course for a more just and peaceful world for all.”
For his part, the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said, “I’d like to emphasize that the initiative is working and we hope that volumes will be increased in the next several next weeks and that we will reach our initial aims of Export of at least 3 million tons per month and up to 5 million in separate months.”
He added, “So again, I’ve worked emphasize the role of the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President Zelensky and our Turkish partners, which provided guarantees for implementation of this initiative.”