May 5, 1999
For immediate release
Eesti keeles

The U.S. is using Estonia as a transit country for delivering humanitarian assistance to Russia

The United States will provide to Russia over 3.1 million tons of food and grain products, valued at approximately $950 million.
This package consists of:

• 1.7 million tons of whet and 30,000 tons of dried milk provided as a grant.
• 1.32 million tons of agricultural commodities.
• 100,000 tons of non-perishable foodstuffs provided as a grant to be distributed directly to needy people in Russia by five U.S. private voluntary organizations.
• 15,00 tons of corn and vegetable seed provided as a grant for sale to farmers.

The food assistance has been delivered since March. Estonia has been used as a transit country for a significant amount of the food assistance because the U.S. government considers transit services of Muuga port and Estonian Railroads reliable. Coming to Estonia on ships, the assistance continues via railways. All costs, connected to the transport of the food up to the Russian border are covered by the U.S. government.

For additional information, please contact USIS: 6 312 210.