Russia and the United States have agreed to ensure the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative, provided that sanctions were eased on Russia's agricultural and food trade, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
The Kremlin said the agreement includes ensuring the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, the non-use of force, and preventing commercial ships from being used for military purposes, with inspections in place to enforce this.
It also added that the United States will help in restoring Russia's access to global markets for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lowering shipping insurance costs, and improving access to ports and international payment systems.
The agreement will enter into force after a series of sanctions and restrictions related to its agricultural and food trade were lifted, the Kremlin noted.
The move would include lifting Western sanctions on the Russian Agricultural Bank, which services agricultural businesses, and reconnecting the bank to the SWIFT international messaging system.
Russia has also listed in the conditions the removal of restrictions on its food and fertilizer producers and exporters, on the servicing of related Russian-flagged vessels in ports, and on the related agricultural machinery supplies to Russia.
The Kremlin statement came after Russian and U.S. representatives wrapped up their Monday's talks in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, where both sides sought arrangements for the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Türkiye and the United Nations the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul in July 2022, which secured the export of Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products from Black Sea ports.
As a parallel agreement, Russia and the UN signed a memorandum of understanding on the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.
On July 17, 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea deal, citing unfulfilled commitments to the Russian part.
Kremlin says Russia, U.S. agree to ensure implementing Black Sea initiative
Kremlin says Russia, U.S. agree to ensure implementing Black Sea initiative
A media host in Myanmar on Friday recalled what he described his "most memorable" life experience when a violent 7.7-magnitude rocked the South Asian nation at around 12:50 local time on the same day, appealing for international assistance to the country's disaster relief efforts.
Myanmar's state-run television said the death toll in Friday's earthquake that struck central parts of the country has so far climbed to 1,002 with 2,376 more injured, while a lot of others remain missing.
Zwe Thet Paing, a host for Myanmar International Radio, shared his personal experience when the strong tremor was felt in Yangon, the country's largest city, in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
"It happened like around 01:00 pm local time. It happened during my break time. I was chilling with my coffee and with my co-workers, and the building started shaking. Soon, I was like, 'Oh, what's going on, what's happening?' The shaking (was) getting stronger and intense. So, I got a realization, 'Oh, the earthquake is really happening right now in Myanmar.' So, of course, I ran away as fast as I can," the host recounted.
Much of the devastation has been reported in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city that lies close to the epicenter of the quake.
Based on what he had learned about the aftermath of the disaster, the media host said the total loss and damage remain difficult to estimate.
"The situation in Mandalay is really bad right now. The Clock Tower near Mandalay, monastery, collapsed, and was damaged. And the obvious part is the Old Sagaing Bridge sustained damage. I'm sure it's already on social media, part of the Mandalay Moat collapsed and was damaged. So, I think some historical sites from the Myanmar kingdom era have collapsed, so it's really difficult to estimate the total loss and damage," he said.
The Myanmar government has released an emergency announcement regarding the earthquake and assembled a committee to provide assistance to those affected, the host said, calling on the international community to help.
"We need international assistance. Please support us, please pray for Myanmar. We need emergency help, especially in Mandalay," he added.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that the United Nations system is mobilizing to support people in need in Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries which have also been affected by the quake.
Myanmar media host recalls moment of earthquake, appealing for int'l support to relief efforts
