Iraq War Will Not Hamper Signing of Agreement on Russian Grain Deliveries to Egypt

The war in Iraq has thwarted arrangements for signing an intergovernmental agreement on Russian grain deliveries to Egypt. However, the agreement will eventually be signed, a source in the Russian cabinet has told the Novosti agency.

The war made a delegation of the Russian Agriculture Ministry put off its trip to Cairo. The experts were to handle formalities related to the agreement, under which Russia was to supply Egypt with 1 to 1.5 million tons of grain annually for the next five years.

Things will be settled and the agreement will be signed in the near future, according to the source. According to the agreement, Egypt will pay the sum in money and by supplying potatoes, onions, vegetables and fruit to Russia.

Russian grain is supplied to Egypt under commercial contracts as well. Those supplies will not be cut off, said the source, adding that Russia was to deliver over 1.5 million tons of grain under commercial contracts.