Lithuanian agrmin calls grain deal major assistance for Ukraine

VILNIUS – The agreement to move control of Ukrainian grain in transit through Poland to third countries from the Ukrainian-Polish border to the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda will facilitate border crossings, Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kestutis Navickas says.

"This is an important step forward and major assistance for to Ukraine, especially needs efficient solidarity corridors (...) The port of Klaipeda is ready to take over a part of the transit flow, and I am glad to see that the cross-border cooperation to facilitate border crossing procedures has been successful and beneficial to Ukraine," Navickas said in a statement on Tuesday, commenting on the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian agreement on speeding up the transit of Ukrainian grain exports 

The agreement is expected to allow for more efficient grain transit, in particular by easing administrative burdens.

Speaking with BNS, Algis Latakas, CEO of the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, said there were various ways to increase grain transit from Ukraine through the Lithuanian port, adding that the agreement reached on Tuesday is only one of the solutions to the problem that makes the situation easier.

"Many things are important, including infrastructure and organizational matters, and also the price itself has to be normal for the grain to move, but also the reduction of checks and the possibility to carry them out at the final port will help to facilitate the movement of grain through the port of Klaipeda. We'll see that process move forward," Latakas said.

He said earlier that Klaipeda could receive more than 10 million tons of grain, but bringing them to the port was still the biggest problem.

Navickas has already signed a declaration under which Lithuania's State Food and Veterinary will take over full state control of grain in transit through and imported to Lithuania.

The agreement also foresees that from now on there will be no state control of animal feed at the Ukrainian-Polish border, and no control of cereals intended for food use as of 4 October.

The agreement also provides that, from now on, there will be no state control of feed at the Ukraine-Poland border, and no control of food grain from October 4.