Russian statement from the US: Extending the duration of the agreement is essential

US Secretary of State Blinken spoke at a press conference in Jakarta for the 56th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Noting that Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to harm not only Ukrainians but also other peoples in the region, Blinken said: “It is essential to expand and prolong the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Russia once again threatened to end. the July 18”. he used the phrase.

Otherwise, Blinken assessed, the region and developing countries will have to pay the price by experiencing higher food prices and more food shortages.

Pointing out that the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with the support of Turkey and the United Nations, allowed grain, wheat and other products in Ukraine to leave Ukraine and go to the world market, Blinken emphasized that in this way, the supply of food to developing countries is possible.

Minister Blinken also said that Ukraine is ready to support a just and lasting peace based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.

MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FIDAN

Emphasizing that the NATO alliance emerged stronger, bigger and more united from the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Blinken stated that the allies enthusiastically welcomed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s commitment to submit Sweden’s accession protocol to NATO to Parliament.

Blinken said he is in constant contact with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and they also met in Jakarta. Explaining that he is also in contact with the Swedish authorities, Blinken stated that he encourages Turkey to complete Sweden’s accession process as soon as possible.

ASEAN AGENDA

Delivering the message that they ushered in a new era in US-ASEAN relations, Blinken referred to cooperation in the field of regional issues, economy, energy, cyber and maritime security, and climate.

Blinken noted that the US is the largest source of foreign direct investment in ASEAN countries and that many US companies operate in these countries.

Noting that there is broad support for the military regime in Myanmar to continue to pressure the military regime to end the violence and honor its commitments under ASEAN, Blinken also reiterated his commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

CHINA AND RUSSIA

Blinken also pointed to China’s increasing activities in the South and East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, sending the message that peace and stability in this region is in the interest of all countries.

Stating that he had “frank and constructive” talks yesterday with Vang Yi, director of the Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Foreign Relations, on a number of regional and global issues, Blinken argued that the foreign minister Foreign Affairs of Russia, Sergey Lavrov, Participation in ASEAN was not fruitful. He said he focused on a negative agenda and blamed the United States for all the problems. (AA)