Istanbul - (AFP) - The Coordination Center for Ukrainian Grain Exports across the Black Sea was officially inaugurated in Istanbul, according to the agreements signed on July 22.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in a short ceremony that the center, which is located in a military academy, will be run by "five representatives of Russia , Ukraine and the United Nations, in addition to Turkey, with an equal number of military and civilians."

Under the agreements concluded for a period of four months between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, this center will be in charge of conducting inspections of ships at sea, and upon their arrival in Istanbul, to verify that they are only transporting grain.

Global markets suffer from a severe shortage of agricultural crops, especially Ukrainian wheat, which have been stuck in ports due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 24.
Akar said the convoys would sail from the ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny. "Preparation and planning for the first ships to sail is under way," he added.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Navy announced that these three Ukrainian ports had "resumed work".

And after he indicated that "there will be no military presence" around these convoys, he enumerated the most important tasks that the central coordination center would have to perform.

The center will have to register and track merchant ships that will participate in the convoys, monitor them via the Internet and satellites, and inspect ships "by joint inspection teams in the appropriate places" during loading in Ukrainian ports and upon arrival at Turkish ports.

If necessary, mine clearance will be decided and organized "by the parties". The Turkish minister said that this matter "is not necessary at this stage." "Those who work here realize that the eyes of the whole world are upon them," he added, expressing his hope that "the center will best contribute to meeting humanitarian needs and collective peace."
For his part, former US Admiral Fred Kenney, who represents the United Nations, noted that the "first function" of the new center is "to ensure the safe navigation of cargo ships." "Everything will be done in this direction," he said.
He added that "the agreement includes grains, food products and fertilizers," without being able to confirm whether it also applies to foodstuffs exported from Russia.
Russia demanded to be able to export its agricultural products without being subjected to Western sanctions.
"We are fulfilling our obligations and counting on the effective implementation of the Istanbul agreements," Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Ivan Nechaev said Wednesday.
However, he noted that "the issue of the export of Ukrainian grain and those related to Russian exports" should have been settled "by linking them together."
After a Russian strike on Odessa on Saturday morning, the day after the signing of the export agreement, Turkey said it was "concerned".
"The attack in Odessa worried everyone," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday morning.
Cavusoglu added, "It is not the type of attack that prevents the port from working, but it should not be repeated."
"We hope that the implementation of the agreement will be possible without problems," he added.