By AFP 18 March 2023 | 3:19 pm Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced the extension of a deal that allowed exports of Ukrainian grain to resume following Russia’s invasion. Turkish President and Leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP) Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday announced the extension of a deal that allowed exports of Ukrainian grain to resume following Russia’s invasion. “Following talks with the two parties, we have assured the extension of the deal that was due to expire on March 19,” Erdogan said in comments broadcast on Turkish television, just hours before the agreement was due to expire at midnight. Erdogan did not say for how long the deal was extended, but Ukraine’s infrastructure minister said the deal had been extended for 120 days. “(The) Black Sea Grain Initiative agreement is extended for 120 days. Grateful to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations, President Erdogan, Minister Hulusi Akar and all our partners for sticking to the agreements,” Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Twitter. Ankara had previously said it wanted a 120-day extension, while Russia was in favour of a 60-day extension. Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 saw Ukraine’s Black Sea ports blocked by warships. But a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 — and signed by Kyiv and Moscow — had allowed for the safe passage of exports of critical grain supplies. The initial agreement was extended in November until March 18. Ukraine was one of the world’s top producers, and the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative has helped soothe the global food crunch triggered by the conflict. Latest 36 mins ago The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed governorship and state assembly elections in 10 polling units in the Victoria Garden City (VGC) around the Lekki area of Lagos State. Some of the polling units affected include PU 032,033, 119 -124. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Segun Agbaje made the announcement while speaking to journalists. According… 46 mins ago The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday in Ilorin paraded 19 suspected vote buyers arrested during the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state. 52 mins ago All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos West Senator-elect, Dr Idiat Adebule has delivered her Polling Unit 029, Iba in Ojo for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and House of Asembly candidate Segun Ege. APC polled 115 votes leaving Labour Party (LP) candidate at a distant second with 57 votes and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) came third with… 1 hour ago Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Saturday described the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections as orderly but decried the low turnout of voters. 1 hour ago The presidential election has come and gone and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the president-elect, while we allow the politicians to deal with the issues arising from the election and also allow the court to play its role.
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