27 JANUARY 2021

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today¡¯s noon briefing by St¨¦phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

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Question:? And another question.? I’ll give you two questions but¡­ because you might want to link them together, one, the US saying it is going to start funding Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] again and then a hint from the new US Ambassador?designate in her confirmation hearing that they may well stop¡­ restart funding to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµFPA [United Nations Population Fund].? So, your reaction to those bits of news?

Spokesman:? I mean, I watched part of the confirmation hearings.? I mean, all of it, if confirmed, is, obviously, welcome news, and for us, going in the right direction.? We know the impact that the cutting of US funding had on Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA, and we also know the impact it had on Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµFPA.? Okay.? If you have a question before we go to Mr.?Steiner, wave your hands up in the air, like Toby and then Erol.? Go ahead, Toby.

Question:? Hi, thanks, St¨¦phane.? I just want to follow up on James’ question about Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA.? So, you’re still waiting for the US to reach out and confirm any actions related to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA? ?That’s my first question.

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Spokesman:? I’m sorry.? I had too many things going on at once here.? On Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA, I mean, we also heard very positive statements from the US representative in the Security Council.? Yesterday, we heard what the Permanent Representative?designate had to say.? We’ll check with Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA if anything officially has happened, but, obviously, the messages that are in the air are indeed very positive.

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For information media. Not an official record.