Russian grain exporters to continue deliveries to Syria under concluded contracts

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) - Russian grain exporters do not plan unilaterally to cease deliveries to Syria under concluded contracts, Eduard Zernin, who is the management board chairman of the Russian Union of Grain Exporters (RusGrain Union), told Interfax.

"Syria is not a key consumer for us, though it is a decent market with capacity of about 2 million tonnes of wheat per year. Russia has recently played a key role in supplying wheat to the country as the main supplier," Zernin said, noting that wheat traditionally plays a key role in the diets of people in the Middle East and the entire MENA region, including Syria.

"Considering this fact and our role in ensuring food security in the MENA region, Russian grain exporters do not plan to terminate unilaterally their obligations under concluded contracts. The issue of payment and repayment of debt for supplied products, if any, would be resolved in the normal course of business. In terms of new deliveries, we are open to proposals," Zernin said.

Russia has supplied about 300,000 tonnes of grain to Syria this season since July 1.

As reported, the armed Syrian opposition announced over the weekend that it had captured Damascus and was forming transitional agencies. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad decided to resign his post and left the country after negotiations with the opposition.

President Vladimir Putin has decided to grant Assad political asylum, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.