Xinhua News Agency, Istanbul, August 2 (Reporter Wang Feng) The Turkish Defense Ministry said on the 2nd that the first grain ship from the Ukrainian port of Odessa has arrived at the mouth of the Black Sea on the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense said on its social media account on the same day that the "Lazzoni" cargo ship loaded with more than 26,000 tons of corn had been anchored at the designated anchorage, waiting for representatives of the Joint Coordination Center for the Black Sea Grain Outbound Transportation to board the ship for inspection.
According to Turkish media reports, a joint coordination center team consisting of representatives from Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations and Turkey will board the ship for inspection at 10:00 local time on the 3rd.
The cargo ship "Lazzoni" left the port of Odessa on the morning of the 1st and will sail to the port of Tripoli, Lebanon.
There are more than ten ships full of grain waiting to leave the port in Odessa.
Turkish Defense Minister Akar said in an interview with the country's Anadolu news agency on the 1st that if there are no problems, the cargo ship will continue its voyage.
Other cargo ships will also pass through the "established corridors" in the same way, according to the agreement on the outflow of agricultural products from the Black Sea ports.
On July 22, Russia and Ukraine signed relevant agreements with Turkey and the United Nations respectively in Istanbul on the issue of the export of agricultural products from Black Sea ports.
The content of the agreement includes the establishment of a joint coordination center in Istanbul to ensure the safety of food transportation. The joint coordination center will be designated by all parties to jointly manage ships entering and leaving the port. Three Ukrainian ports, including the port of Odessa, will start shipping out. food and fertilizers, etc.
Known as the "granary of Europe", Ukraine is a major exporter of corn and wheat.
According to reports, due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, more than 20 million tons of Ukrainian grains are currently stranded in the port of Odessa and cannot be shipped out.
Ukraine has accused Russia of blocking ports and preventing Ukrainian grain exports.
Russia denies interfering with Ukrainian exports, accusing Ukraine of laying a large number of mines in the Black Sea, endangering the safety of navigation.