DB180115
15 JANUARY 2018

Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

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:? St¨¦ph, does the Secretary?General have any comment on reports that the United States is planning to dramatically cut the budget for Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA?(United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) for Palestinian refugees?

Spokesman:? You know, we¡¯ve¡­ we haven¡¯t been advised of anything officially. ?We¡¯re obviously aware and we¡¯ve seen the press reports.? I think it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s very important to understand a few things. ?One, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA¡¯s mandate is given to it by the General Assembly to support humanitarian human development work. ?Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA serves, I think, some of the most marginalized population in the Middle East. ?And I think its presence through its activities and its presence through health, education, and humanitarian help is a force for stabilization in a very volatile¡­ a very volatile area.

Question:? Can I follow up?

Spokesman:? Yes.

Question:? It¡¯s just¡­ just to follow up, it looks like it¡¯s going to be 60?million that¡¯s going to be cut instead of?125. ?Is that a gap, for instance, that other countries could cover?

Spokesman:? I keep in my head what the Secretary?General tells me to say, which is never to comment on things that have not happened. ?So, our position on Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA, I¡¯ve just stated. ?We¡¯ll obviously wait to see what the actual number is.? The United States is a major funder of Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA. ?We¡¯ve always appreciated its¡­ its contributions. ?The fact is that Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA¡¯s work will¡­ is critical, and if any donor severely cuts its contributions, we will have to find other¡­ other sources.? Sir?

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Question:? Hi, St¨¦ph. ?What is the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ¡¯s position on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas¡¯ statement on Sunday that he would only accept a broad international panel to broker any peace deal, basically undercutting the US¡¯s role as¡­ as chief mediator?

Spokesman:? Look, I have no particular comment on¡­ on what President Abbas said except to say that, for us, what is critical is that there be negotiations between the parties leading to a¡­ to a two?State solution based on all relevant Security Council resolutions.? Yes, sir?

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Question:? Another question on the Middle East. ?There was a statement from Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs. ?He said that he expects that the Middle East Quartet might meet very soon. ?Any indications from the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ that such meeting can take place and when?

Spokesman:? We¡¯ve checked. ?We¡¯ll try to get back to you if we have an update.? Mr.?Lee?

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