2023-09-11 16:10:05
AA / Istanbul / Muhammed Enes Calli
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Monday that he will continue telephone exchanges with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin regarding the resumption of the Istanbul agreement on Black Sea grain.
Speaking to the press on the plane returning from the G-20 summit held in New Delhi, India, the Turkish president recalled that Putin had insisted on the West’s failure to respect its promises regarding the grain corridor , an agreement with Ukraine and Russia negotiated last year by Türkiye and the United Nations.
“Previously, we talked regarding delivering a million tons of grain. During our meeting with Lavrov, we – Qatar, Turkey and Russia – specifically planned to ship a million tons of grain to underdeveloped African countries. We will take measures to increase these numbers,” he said.
According to previously presented plans, Russian grain should be transported to Türkiye, where it would be transformed into flour, before being sent to African countries in need. Qatar should contribute to financing this operation.
While indicating that he will ask Putin for an increase of one million tonnes of grain, Erdogan called on the West to “assume its responsibilities”.
“Türkiye will be present at every negotiating table as a stabilizing force to prevent another food, energy or other crisis, and further bloodshed. The nations of the world, especially the people of Western countries, should know that the Türkiye is the only country that is working to prevent a global food crisis,” Erdogan continued.
It will also be one of the main items on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly, which will be held later this month. “I will discuss in detail our country’s efforts in this area.”
– Trade routes and economic links
Recep Tayyip Erdogan affirmed that during his visit to New York for the next United Nations General Assembly, he will hold meetings with many companies with investments in Türkiye in order to hold “direct discussions” with them.
“The global gas price in Türkiye will be determined in the coming period by concrete steps we will take to establish a natural gas station,” he revealed.
He added: “An American financial institution provided $550 million to finance the petrochemical facility in Adana, an important financing for investments.”
On the sidelines of the G-20 summit, the Turkish head of state discussed with his South Korean counterpart the construction of a third nuclear power plant in Türkiye, following the Akkuyu power plant built by the Russians and a second power plant in project.
According to Erdogan, the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, which is the subject of a pact signed at this weekend’s G-20 summit, cannot be done without Ankara, because the most important route between East and West must pass through the Türkiye.
A memorandum of understanding was signed in India between the EU and seven countries to build an economic corridor linking Europe to the Middle East and India by rail and maritime lines.
The multinational rail and maritime project signed between India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Germany, Italy and the EU aims to connect India to the Middle East and Europe to increase trade, provide energy resources and develop digital connectivity.
Although the signatory countries did not commit to a binding financial obligation, they agreed to prepare an action plan for the establishment of the corridor within two months.
Regarding relations with Egypt, Erdogan said the two countries will strive to double the volume of trade and revitalize the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
“Restoring our relations with Egypt to a better level than before might yield positive results for the Syrian file and other regional problems,” he stressed.
*Translated from English by Alex Sinhan Bogmis
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