People from multiple parties at a newly-established Joint Coordination Center in Turkey are striving jointly to ensure safe grain shipment from Ukraine, said a coordinator from the United Nations.
Turkey inaugurated the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul on Wednesday to monitor the implementation of the grain shipment process from Ukraine, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters.
Located inside the big compound of a military university in the city's European side district of Besiktas, the center consists of 20 representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, five from each party, according to Akar.
Akar said at the launching ceremony of the coordination center that the current main task is to safely and quickly transport more than 20 million tons of grain stranded in Ukrainian ports to countries in need.
"The coordination center can monitor the movements of all merchant ships in the Black Sea using means such as Turkey's infrastructure. Preparations and planning for the first ship fully loaded with grain to leave Ukrainian port are still in progress," said Akar.
Insurance companies have previously suggested that insurance for Ukrainian grain ships will only be considered if escort is provided and mine clearance is in place.
Frederick Kenney, an interim coordinator for the UN to the Joint Coordination Center, said in an interview that safety concern is the top priority for those working at the coordination center.
"The primary consideration in this initiative is to ensure the safety and safe navigation of merchant vessels so all of these considerations will be taken into account," he said.
Kenney mentioned that Ukraine's grain transportation plays an indispensable role in ensuring global food security.
"We believe it is critical to guarantee the global food security, so we need to succeed," he said.
