United Nations in Türkiye

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Türkiye:

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22 July 2022

Black Sea grain exports deal ‘a beacon of hope’ amid Ukraine war - Guterres

An “unprecedented agreement” on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war is “a beacon of hope” in a world that desperately needs it, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday. The UN plan, which also paves the way for Russian grain and fertilizer to reach global markets, will help to stabilize spiralling food prices worldwide and stave off famine, affecting millions. Russian and Ukrainian Ministers signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative, facing each other at opposite ends of the table, while the Secretary-General and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sat in the centre. Hope and relief “Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea,” the UN chief said, speaking prior to the signing. “A beacon of hope – a beacon of possibility – a beacon of relief -- in a world that needs it more than ever.” Mr. Guterres thanked President Erdogan and his government for facilitating the talks that led to the deal. He commended the Russian and Ukrainian representatives for putting aside their differences in the common interests of humanity. “The question has not been what is good for one side or the other,” he said. “The focus has been on what matters most for the people of our world. And let there be no doubt – this is an agreement for the world.” Ukraine is among the world’s leading grain exporters, supplying more than 45 million tonnes annually to the global market, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Russian invasion, which began on 24 February, has sparked record food and fuel prices, as well as supply chain issues, with mountains of grain stocks stuck in silos. In addition to stabilizing global food prices, the agreement “will bring relief for developing countries on the edge of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable people on the edge of famine,” said Mr. Guterres. “Since the war started, I have been highlighting that there is no solution to the global food crisis without ensuring full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizer.” A long road The initiative specifically allows for significant volumes of commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. The Secretary-General also announced the establishment of a Joint Coordination Centre to monitor implementation. It will be hosted in Istanbul and will include representatives from Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye. Mr. Guterres acknowledged “the long road” and weeks of around-the clock negotiations leading up to the landmark agreement. In April, the Secretary-General met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to propose a plan. The UN has been "working every day since", he said. Two UN Task Forces were established in parallel on the talks - one focused on the shipment of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, which was led by UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths, and the other on facilitating access of Russian food and fertilizers, headed by Rebecca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD. Beacon for peace Mr. Guterres pledged the UN’s full commitment to the agreement, and urged all sides to do the same. “This is an unprecedented agreement between two parties engaged in bloody conflict. But that conflict continues,” he said, noting that people are dying every day as the fighting rages. “The beacon of hope on the Black Sea is shining bright today, thanks to the collective efforts of so many. In these trying and turbulent times for the region and our globe, let that beacon guide the way towards easing human suffering and securing peace.” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech said, "We are proud of being instrumental in an initiative that will play a major role in the solution of the global food crisis that has occupied the whole world for a long time". The president added: "We will contribute to preventing the danger of hunger that awaits billions of people in the world."

He noted that by the ship traffic that will start in the coming days, "we will inaugurate a new corridor from the Black Sea to many countries in the world."

The president also said the agreement has been made on all processes from the departure of the ships to their safe passage as well as arrival at the port of destination.

"The implementation and supervision of this highly important plan will be carried out by the joint coordination center to be established in Istanbul," he added.

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11 August 2022

Ukraine grain export deal off to ‘a very good start’ – UN interim Coordinator

Under the Black Sea Initiative so far, 12 vessels have been “authorized to depart the Ukrainian ports,” the acting UN coordinator for the grain deal told UN journalists in New York on Wednesday. Frederick J. Kenney Jr., interim Coordinator for the UN at the Joint Coordination Centre for the Black Sea Initiative, said at a regular UN press briefing via video link from Istanbul, Türkiye that the ships contain “over 370,000 metric tons of grain and other food stocks”. “Those vessels had been stranded in the three ports covered by the initiative when the war started”. The initiative specifically allows for significant volumes of commercial food exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. During the agreement signing ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 22 July, Secretary-General António Guterres called the initiative “a beacon of hope” in a world that desperately needs it. He also announced the establishment of the Joint Coordination Centre to monitor implementation that would be hosted in Istanbul and include representatives from Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye. Mr. Kenney said that the initiative had produced detailed procedures for participating vessels to follow, which had been “disseminated to the shipping industry earlier this week”. “Our priority is to free up pier space in those ports so that the vessels come in and take new cargo,” he continued. “We have also authorized the movement of four vessels into the Ukrainian park ports so far for loading”. The UN interim Coordinator reminded that the agreement is scheduled to last for 120 days. “We still have much work ahead of us to ensure that the implementation of the initiative translates into real results to address food insecurity around the globe and to stabilize global food markets,” he stated. However, added Mr. Kenney, “we are off with a very good start”. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric clarified a related question raised by a journalist yesterday on a possible discount afforded to Türkiye’s purchase of Ukrainian grain. “We did much research, as much research as possible, and I can tell you that there was no discount built into the Black Sea Grain Initiative agreement that was signed in Istanbul,” he said. “Furthermore, we are not aware of any other agreement that would guarantee such a discount”. Click here to watch the press briefing in its entirety.

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04 August 2022

Ukraine: Black Sea grain shipment success raises hopes more will follow

The first, eagerly-awaited commercial shipment of grain to leave the Ukrainian port of Odesa since Russia’s invasion more than five months ago, was cleared to proceed to Lebanon on Wednesday, after a scheduled inspection stopover in Istanbul. In line with the UN-partnered Black Sea Grain Initiative that was facilitated by the Secretary-General on 22 July, the crew of the merchant vessel Razoni and its 26,000-tonne cargo of Ukrainian corn underwent checks lasting three hours. The Sierra Leone-flagged ship arrived in Istanbul’s waters on Tuesday evening, after sailing from Ukraine’s main Black Sea port of Odesa on Monday. “A joint civilian inspection team comprising officials from the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Nations visited the merchant vessel Razoni this morning,” the Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) said in a statement. “This marks the conclusion of an initial ‘proof of concept’ operation”, the statement continued, adding that three ports in Ukraine were due to resume the export of millions of tonnes of wheat, corn and other crops “at a time of global food insecurity”. In addition to shipping millions of tonnes of food from Ukraine, the initiative also envisages the export of fertilizer needed by the world’s farmers, “under close monitoring”, the Joint Coordination Centre statement explained. It noted that the inspectors had spoken to the Razoni’s crew and gained “valuable information” about the vessel’s journey along the maritime humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea that was agreed by the signatories of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. “The JCC will use this voyage in its ongoing work on fine-tuning procedures and processes to enable the continuation of safe passage of commercial vessels across the Black Sea under the Initiative.”

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02 August 2022

Black Sea Grain Initiative: First ship leaves Odesa

The UN chief on Monday welcomed the departure of the first ship from the Ukrainian port of Odesa, carrying grain under the landmark deal signed by Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye, overseen by the UN. The Razoni, carrying a cargo of 26,527 tonnes of corn, is the first cargo ship to leave a Ukrainian Black Sea port since 26 February, just a few days after the Russian invasion began. It is bound for the Mediterranean port of Tripoli, in Lebanon. In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that ensuring “existing grain and foodstuffs can move to global markets is a humanitarian imperative.” The deal dubbed a “beacon of hope” by Mr. Guterres when it was signed in the Turkish city of Istanbul on 22 July, is a “collective achievement” of the newly-established Joint Coordination Centre, or JCC, set up in Istanbul, under the auspices of the UN, by representatives from the three governments who inked the deal, known officially as the Black Sea Grain Initiative. In a statement the JCC said it had agreed the specific coordinates and restrictions for what it termed the Safe Humanitarian Maritime Corridor, "and has communicated those details in accordance with international navigation procedures." "The JCC has requested all its participants to inform their respective military and other relevant authorities of this decision to ensure the safe passage of the vessel." The plan also paves the way for Russian food and fertilizer to reach global markets, all of which it is hoped will help reduce soaring food prices worldwide, and avert the possibility of famine afflicting millions in the months ahead. Since the deal was signed, the parties involved “have been working tirelessly” to begin the process of shipping grain and cereals out from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. “The Secretary-General salutes their efforts, and he is grateful to Türkiye for its leadership”, the statement said, just after the vessel left port. “The Secretary-General hopes that this will be the first of many commercial ships moving in accordance with the Initiative signed, and that this will bring much-needed stability and relief to global food security especially in the most fragile humanitarian contexts.” The statement added that the UN emergency food agency, WFP, which is a major customer of Ukraine’s grain and cereals, was planning to buy, load and ship an initial 30,000 tonnes of wheat from Ukraine, on a UN-chartered vessel. Addressing correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York on the shipment, Mr. Guterres said the ship was loaded with two commodities in short supply, "corn, and hope." "People on the verge of famine need these agreements to work, in order to survive. Countries on the verge of bankruptcy need these agreements to work, in order to keep their economies alive." While the "tragic war continues to rage", said the UN chief, the UN would continue working every day, "to bring relief to the people of Ukraine, and to those suffering the effects of the conflict around the world." He said the war "must end, and peace must be established, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law. "I hope today’s news can be a step towards that goal, for the people of Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and for the world."

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29 July 2022

UN welcomes new centre to put Ukraine grain exports deal into motion

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the official start of the operation based in the Turkish city of Istanbul, that will help implement the UN-brokered deal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, amid the ongoing conflict and rising food prices worldwide. The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC), inaugurated on Wednesday, brings together senior representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye and the UN. The Secretary-General has underscored the importance of the parties working in partnership directly to effectively implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with a view to reducing global food insecurity, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement issued late that day. Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye signed the agreement in Istanbul on Friday. The JCC will enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of commercial foodstuffs and fertilizer from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea: Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny. “This will help to effectively respond to and prevent rising global food insecurity,” said Mr. Haq. “Together with the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the Secretariat of the United Nations on promoting the access of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets, it will help reinstate confidence in the global food market and reduce food prices from their current levels,” he added. The JCC will monitor the movement of commercial vessels to ensure compliance with the agreement. Focus will be on export of bulk commercial grain and related food commodities only. It will also ensure the on-site control and monitoring of cargo from Ukrainian ports and report on shipments facilitated through the Initiative. The Secretary-General expressed gratitude to Türkiye, which provided the parties and the UN with a platform to help operationalize the Initiative. He also thanked Russia and Ukraine for nominating and quickly sending their senior representatives to Istanbul. The top UN aid official also welcomed the JCC’s launch. Martin Griffiths, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, noted that the centre’s swift opening was made possible through the invaluable support of Türkiye, and the commitment shown by Russia and Ukraine. “I am hopeful that their swift collective action will translate quickly and directly into much-needed relief for the most vulnerable food insecure people around the world.” The UN’s interim representative at the JCC, Frederick Kenney Jr., attended the inauguration ceremony and is leading the Organization’s efforts on the ground. “It is extremely encouraging to see the parties focusing on implementing the initiative,” he said. “Work at the centre is non-stop with the aim to see the first shipments heading out of Ukrainian ports quickly, safely and effectively.”

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26 July 2022

From Where I Stand: “We need women’s voices for a sustainable marine life and fisheries sector”

Huriye Göncüoğlu Bodur is an academic at the Ege University Faculty of Fisheries and a social entrepreneur based in Izmir, a western province of Türkiye. She is an activist and the founder of the Women in Fisheries Society, a civil society organization defending the rights of fisherwomen and working to preserve marine life. She attended the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in April 2022 held in Geneva with the support of UN Women Türkiye. The Forum helped her grasp a deeper understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sparked her enthusiasm to advocate for them. “I grew up in a house with a sea view. As a child, I loved watching and being in the sea. I always wanted to dive deeper, in like the story of The Little Black Fish by Samed Behrengi, which my mother used to read to me. We used to spend part of our summer holidays in my grandmother’s vineyard where I learned solidarity, collaboration and collective labour. With these two women in my life, I started to dream of a better world. This dream transformed into a vision of an equitable fisheries sector where men and women have the same rights. During my education, I realized that women in the fisheries sector cannot participate in decision-making and experience challenges in accessing information. In 2019, I established the Women in Fisheries Society, a civil society organization aiming to strengthen artisanal fisheries and fisherwomen. The society challenges gender roles and stereotypes in the fisheries sector in Türkiye. It also works for an ecosystem-based ‘blue economy’ for preserving and sustaining marine resources. At the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) 2022, it was inspiring to observe representatives of governments, civil society, the private sector, academics, youth, and women together, with the aim of realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. I had the opportunity to join expert meetings on SDG5 and SDG14 and to discuss key issues with scientists and civil society representatives. Their efforts on ‘marine literacy’ are already shaping my future studies and advocacy initiatives. SDG 14 emphasizes how essential our ocean, sea, and marine resources are to human well-being as well as social and economic development. Unfortunately, the public does not have enough knowledge about the importance of marine resources and their impacts on our lives, and how our daily practices affect the marine ecosystem. RFSD once again proved that there is a close relationship between marine life and the climate crisis. On the other hand, fisherwomen have the wisdom of preserving resources and protecting marine life. They are the natural protectors of the sea. There is an immense relationship between women and nature. Women take environmental problems seriously, and they foresee natural disasters. We need women’s experiences, voices and perspectives for an ecosystem-based and sustainable marine life. A fair and prosperous fishing society will be possible only if we ensure the participation of the most vulnerable groups such as small-scale family fisheries in the ‘blue economy’, and implement policies to empower women in this sector. Huriye Göncüoğlu Bodur attended the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva on 6–7 April 2022. Her participation in the forum was supported by UN Women Türkiye through the Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality project funded by the European Union. Bodur’s work contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 Life Below Water, which aims to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development. Her work also relates to SDG 5 on achieving gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.

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Press Release

13 August 2022

JCC Operational Update: 2 more ships authorized for movement from Ukraine

Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre Operational Update 12 August 2022, ISTANBUL - The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized today the movement of two outbound vessels from Ukraine carrying a total of 14,914 metric tons of grain, through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The vessels authorized to move tomorrow, 13 August are: 1) MV THOE from Chornomorsk carrying 2914 metric tons of sunflower seeds with destination Tekirdag, Türkiye 2) MV FULMAR S from Chornomorsk with 12,000 metric tons of corn with destination Iskenderun, Türkiye Today, the JCC has further inspected and cleared MV EFE and MV SARA to depart for the port of Odesa. Tomorrow, the joint inspections teams will inspect outbound MV RAHMI YAGCI at Marmara Sea. As per procedures agreed at the JCC, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The JCC will monitor closely the passage of those vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor. Note to editors: The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world.

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Press Release

12 August 2022

Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre Operational update

11 August 2022, ISTANBUL - The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized today the movement of two outbound vessels from Ukraine carrying a total of 63,200 metric tons of grain, through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The vessels authorized to move tomorrow, 12 August are: 1) MV STAR LAURA from Yuzhny (Pivdenniy) carrying 60,150 metric tons of corn with destination Bandar Imam Khomeini, Iran 2) MV SORMOVSKIY 121 from Chornomorsk with 3,050 metric tons of wheat with destination Tekirdag, Turkiye The JCC has further authorized today the movement, pending inspections, of MV EFE and MV SARA with destination the port of Odesa. The two vessels will be inspected tomorrow at Marmara Sea, while an inspection will also be conducted at outbound vessel MV RAHMI YAGCI. Yesterday, 10 August, the joint inspection teams cleared three outbound vessels, MV ARIZONA, MV SACURA and MV MUSTAFA NACITI and two inbound vessels, MV PETREL S and MV BRAVE COMMANDER that are en route to Chornomorsk and Yuzhny (Pivdenniy) respectively. Today, the JCC inspected and cleared MV OCEAN LION. As per procedures agreed at the JCC, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The JCC will monitor closely the passage of those vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor. Note to editors: The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world.

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Press Release

10 August 2022

Black Sea Grain Initiative Joint Coordination Centre Operational update

9 August 2022, ISTANBUL - The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized today the movement of two vessels, pending inspections, through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The vessels MV PETREL S and MV BRAVE COMMANDER will be inspected tomorrow at Marmara Sea and if cleared, they will depart to Chornomorsk and Yuzhny (Pivdenniy) respectively. Furthermore, the joint inspection teams will conduct tomorrow at Marmara Sea inspections onboard outbound ships MV MUSTAFA NACITI, MV SACURA and MV ARIZONA. Today, the joint teams conducted inspections onboard outbound ships MV RIVA WIND, MV GLORY and MV STAR HELENA, and they are all cleared to sail. As per procedures agreed at the JCC, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The JCC will monitor closely the passage of those vessels through the humanitarian maritime corridor. Note to editors: The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world. For info, contact: Ismini Palla (Ms), Media and Communications Officer, Joint Coordination Centre, +962770996330, palla@un.org

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Press Release

09 August 2022

Black Sea Grain Initiative/Joint Coordination Centre - Operational Update

8 August 2022, ISTANBUL - The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized today the departure of two vessels through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative carrying a total of 70,020 metric tons of foodstuffs.

The vessels authorized to move tomorrow, 9 August, are:
1) MV OCEAN LION from the port of Chornomorsk with a cargo of 64,720 metric tons of corn with destination Incheon, Republic of Korea 2) MV RAHMI YAGCI from the port of Chornomorsk with a cargo of 5,300 metric tons of sunflower meal with destination Istanbul, Türkiye Timings may be affected based on readiness, weather conditions or other unexpected circumstances.
Destinations referred to are the ones communicated to the JCC at the time of authorization and they may change based on commercial activity.

Furthermore, the joint inspection teams will conduct inspections tomorrow onboard outbound ships MV RIVA WIND, MV GLORY and MV STAR HELENA.

As per procedures agreed at the JCC, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels. The JCC will monitor closely the safe passage of the vessels through the humanitarian maritime corridor.

Note to editors: The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world.

For info, contact: Ismini Palla (Ms), Media and Communications Officer, Joint Coordination Centre, +962770996330, palla@un.org

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Press Release

05 August 2022

Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized the departure of three vessels from Ukraine

4 August 2022, ISTANBUL - The Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) has authorized the departure of three vessels from Ukraine, two from Chornomorsk and one from Odesa, carrying a total of 58,041 tons of corn through the maritime humanitarian corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The vessels authorized to move tomorrow, 5 August, are: 1) M/V Polarnet, anchored in Chornomorsk port, with a cargo of 12,000 MT of corn destined to Karasu, Türkiye
2) M/V Navistar, anchored in Odesa port, with a cargo of 33,000 MT of corn with destination Ringaskiddy, Ireland
3) M/V Rojen, anchored in Chornomorsk port, with a cargo of 13,041 MT corn destined to Teesport, UK The JCC has also authorized the movement, pending inspection, of M/V Fulmar S, inbound for Chornomorsk. Fulmar S is currently at anchorage at the inspection area near north west of Istanbul. The three outbound vessels are estimated to depart in the morning from their respective ports. Timings may be affected based on readiness, weather conditions or other unexpected circumstances. Inspection is expected to take place after arrival at the anchorage area in Turkish territorial waters.

The inbound vessel is anticipated to move from her anchorage at 0900hrs after the inspection by the JCC’s inspection team. Drawing from lessons learnt during the first movement of M/V Razoni, the JCC has authorized this movement as a second ‘proof of concept’, testing multi-ship operations in the corridor including an inbound ship. In addition, the corridor has been revised to allow for more efficient passage of ships while maintaining safety. The JCC further acknowledges the need for the commercial vessels stranded in the Ukrainian ports since February to depart to their pre-defined destinations. Their movement will free up valuable pier space for more inbound ships to come in and carry food to global markets in line with the Initiative. As per procedures agreed at the JCC, all participants coordinate with their respective military and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels. The JCC will monitor closely the safe passage of the vessels through the humanitarian maritime corridor. Note to editors: The Joint Coordination Centre was established under the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul on 27 July 2022. It comprises senior representatives from Russia, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Nations and its role is to enable the safe transportation, by merchant ships, of grain and other foodstuffs and fertilizers from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea to the rest of the world.

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