31 MARCH 2021
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
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Questions and Answers
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Question: My second question, I recently asked your Deputy Spokesman Mr. Haq about Israeli role in distributing the vaccine to the Palestinian, and he thanked Israel for their cooperation. The same day, which was Friday, not this Friday, the one before, the UN Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People issued a statement criticizing Israel and calling on Israel to live up to its responsibilities. And, in particular, they criticized Israel for selling vaccines or distributing it freely for some of their allies. So, the same day Farhan Haq thanked Israel, and the same day the UN committee criticized Israel. Whom do I believe? The UN position…
Spokesman: Look… Abdelhamid, you know the UN better than me. There are different voices within the Organization. I speak for the Secretary‑General, and the Secretariat. The Committee is a committee of Member States. Both have expressed a position. I have nothing to add to what Mr. Haq has said. Okay.
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For information media. Not an official record.
Document Sources: Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), Secretary-General, United Nations Department of Global Communications
Subject: Health
Publication Date: 31/03/2021
URL source: https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/db210331.doc.htm