Blocking Access into oPt for Singer and Former UNRWA Regional Youth Ambassador Mohammed Assaf, Special Coordinator’s Remarks at Security Council Meeting – 28 Oct. 2020 Daily Press Briefing – (Excerpts)

28 OCTOBER 2020

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

/…

Questions and Answers

/…

Question:  Thank you, Stéphane.  First, I have a follow‑up to my question yesterday about Mohammed Assaf being prevented from going back to the West Bank.  That’s a follow‑up question of yesterday.  And my second question…

Spokesman:  Yes, I don’t have an… I apologise.  I don’t have an update for you on that.

Question:  My second question… or my question for the day is about [Nickolay] Mladenov briefing to the Security Council on Monday.  He requested the PA [Palestine Authority] to resume security and civilian coordination with Israel, which is a fact that he ignoring the reasons for the suspension — because Israel decided to annex 30 per cent of the West Bank and build more settlement, which Israel is doing as we speak.  Why he failed also to call on Israel to lift 13 year… 13 years of siege on Gaza, instead of asking the PA [Palestine Authority] to resume coordinate… security coordination with Israel?

Spokesman:  I think his remarks were a broad reflection of the consistent positions we have had and the consistent calls we have had for… from the Secretary‑General in calling for dialogue, in ensuring that humanitarian aid and goods and people are able to flow freely.  I don’t see any of his remarks as a change in our basic principles.

/…

For information media. Not an official record.