HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY?ST?PHANE DUJARRIC?,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANT?NIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 22 JÄ¢¹½ÊÓÆµE 2020

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SECRETARY-GENERAL/U.N.R.W.A.

Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will take part in a virtual ministerial conference on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA), called ¡°A Strong Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA in a Challenging World ¨C Mobilizing Collective Action.¡±

That meeting is being co-chaired by the Foreign Minister of Jordan and the Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden.

The event seeks to help Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA bridge its financial gap for 2020 and to ensure that it receives sufficient, predictable and sustainable resources to continue delivering on its mandate in the coming years.

The Secretary-General will make brief opening remarks at the press conference immediately after the virtual conference ends.

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Questions and Answers

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Question:? Thank you, St¨¦phane.? Welcome back.? I just want to say I sent you an email while you were away.? I expect an answer to [inaudible].? My question is about when the [inaudible], St¨¦phane, on Middle East and [inaudible] Palestinian question.? It’s a ministerial meeting and debate over the annexation.? First, would the SG participate in this important [inaudible]?

Spokesman:? I¡­ I’m not able to confirm it at this point, but I would not be surprised if he did participate, alongside with Mr.?[Nickolay] Mladenov.

Question:? Is there any scheduled meeting between him and the Palestinian Foreign Minister who will be¡­ delivering the speech on behalf of Palestine?

Spokesman:? No¡­ not that I’m aware, but I can check.

Correspondent:? Thank you very much.

Spokesman:? You’re very welcome.? Ibtisam and then Toby.

Question:? Hi, Steph.? Welcome back.? I have two questions, one also on Palestine.? Could you give us more¡­ a clearer picture which efforts did the Secretary?General undertake to put more pressure on Israelis against the annexation, anything in that direction?

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For information media. Not an official record.