Mozambique's representative on the world stage of the United Nations, Pedro Comissário, made a vehement appeal on Monday for Russia and Ukraine, calling for an immediate return to direct and constructive dialogue, with the aim of ending the conflict that has been worsening between the two nations.
In New York, United States of America, at the opening of the United Nations Security Council session scheduled to discuss the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, Comissário stressed that the belligerents should listen to the peace proposals put forward by multiple States and by the Security Council itself.
Comissário expressed deep concern at the situation, urging the parties in dispute to return promptly to direct dialogue in good faith. He argued that the peace initiatives that have been put forward by various States, including members of the Council, should be seriously considered.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, large volumes of grain have piled up, as a result of security difficulties in shipping to and from Ukraine. This scenario fuelled the rise in inflation and the consequent increase in the cost of living in several nations, given that Ukraine is among the world's largest grain producers.
In an attempt to resolve the crisis, the United Nations, in collaboration with the governments of Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, formalised the Black Sea grain agreement, which provides for the creation of a maritime humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of three Ukrainian ports.
The agreement is due to expire this week and, in the view of Pedro Comissário, Mozambique's ambassador to the United Nations, he stressed the need to renew the memorandum. Comissário concluded his speech with a call for the Black Sea Grain Initiative to be renewed, improved and expanded, stressing its importance in line with the conclusions of the Secretary-General's Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance.
