The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today\u2019s noon briefing by St\u00e9phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.<\/p>\n
\/…<\/p>\n
**Secretary-General\u2019s Remarks<\/u><\/p>\n
The Secretary-General is speaking right now at a ministerial meeting for the support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and he will emphasize in the meeting the role that UNRWA has played as a force for stability in the region.\u00a0 He will thank the Member States for their generosity in helping them to overcome its financial crisis last year and urge continued support for UNRWA.<\/p>\n
\/…<\/p>\n
**Questions and Answers<\/u><\/p>\n
\/…<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Thank you, sir.\u00a0 I have a very quick question.\u00a0 As UNRWA is increasingly becoming under a great deal of pressure in terms of raising funds and so on, there are also charges of corruption and so on.\u00a0 I want\u2026 I want you to share with us if there is anything, what is the UN, what is the Secretariat or the Secretary\u2011General is doing about ensuring that UNRWA will continue to get the funds needed?\u00a0 And second, do you believe that there has been some sort of a, you know, maybe an unintended effort to undermine UNRWA by these charges that have been levelled against them?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 I think there are two separate things.\u00a0 First of all, for the Secretary\u2011General, UNRWA does incredible work and it is a force of good and stability in the region.\u00a0 Children throughout its area of operations are depending on UNRWA for strong and quality education, access to health care, et cetera.\u00a0 He will continue to push for full funding for UNRWA as it goes about its work.\u00a0 As you know, there is an investigation going on.\u00a0 The Secretary\u2011General will act when he gets the conclusions of that investigation.\u00a0 As you also know, following the departure of the Deputy Commissioner General, he sent Christian Saunders to be the new deputy and Mr.\u00a0Saunders is there and working.\u00a0 Mr.\u00a0Klein?<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 As a follow\u2011up, number one, was the Secretary\u2011General planning to discuss the current status of the internal investigation of the alleged UNRWA corruption at the ministerial meeting that you referenced in your remarks?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 The focus, it’s not for him to discuss the status.\u00a0 I mean, there is an investigation going on.\u00a0 He will get the results of it and he will act.\u00a0 He has\u2026<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 But, certain\u2026 I’m sorry, certain countries, as you know, have already indicated they are going to suspend their donations, so they are related?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 Right, the Secretary\u2011General’s message is that UNRWA’s work continues.\u00a0 UNRWA’s funding, like funding for all UN agencies, is under very close, you know, review by auditors and it’s all very public and transparent.\u00a0 We very much hope that Member States will continue funding UNRWA.\u00a0 And when the Secretary\u2011General gets the results of the investigations, he will act.<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 But, secondly though, why didn’t the Secretary\u2011General accept the UNRWA\u2019s own internal ethics organization’s recommendation that the alleged perpetrators, including the Commissioner General, they recommended their removal, or at least why didn’t he suspend them temporarily pending the outcome of the investigation?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 I think the Secretary\u2011General acted in the best interests of UNRWA and that the work it does.\u00a0 Yes, sir.\u00a0 I’m happy to hear from you, but our viewers\u2026 no, no, our viewers need to hear from you, so you need to use the microphone.\u00a0 It’s not the State Department.\u00a0 You need to do more work here.<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 I just wanted to ask you if you still have confidence in the Commissioner General?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 He continues to serve as Commissioner General.<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 And you expect him to continue to serve?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 I’m not in the speculation business.\u00a0 Yes, sir?<\/p>\n
\/…<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 I can do that.\u00a0 Do you have any\u2026 do you have the numbers regarding the UNRWA donor meeting, how much they need?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 We will get\u2026 I think we will have a clearer picture right after the\u2026 after the event, which is going on now.<\/p>\n
Question<\/u>:\u00a0 Are you disappointed that the United States is not speaking at this donor conference?<\/p>\n
Spokesman<\/u>:\u00a0 Member States are free to come.\u00a0 I think the United States expressed\u2026 in the last year or so expressed its position on UNRWA.\u00a0 The United States had historically been a strong supporter and strong funder of UNRWA, but I think their position and their policies is not a secret.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n
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