OREANDA-NEWS  UN Deputy Secretary-General Martin Griffiths spoke in favor of further extension of grain export agreements from Ukraine and expansion of supplies of Russian fertilizers abroad. He said this at a press conference in Geneva dedicated to the presentation of the annual UN Global Humanitarian Review published on Thursday.

Answering a question about the prospects of the Black Sea grain initiative, which was extended on November 17 for another 120 days, Griffiths said: "I firmly believe that the world will expect its resumption and, possibly, expansion to include more ports. We want more fertilizers to be exported, in particular directly from Russia. Including Europe."

Referring to the opinion of partners from the World Food Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Griffiths stressed that fertilizers supplied to the world market "play a key role in solving the problem of their shortage and high prices next year."

The Deputy Secretary General expressed confidence that negotiations will be held on the extension of the grain deal. "We are doing this, and I am sure that we will have negotiations. I hope that we will expand it, not reduce it," Griffiths said, recalling that "the grain initiative and Russian exports have reduced the prices of food and fertilizers."