The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today*s noon briefing by St谷phane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

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**Questions and Answers

Mr.?Bays?

Question:? Couple of questions.? First, a clarification, you say the Secretary-General can*t be with us tomorrow because of a scheduling conflict.? Can you tell us, is he in New York at 12:30?tomorrow? ?And what is he doing?

Spokesman:? There is the global town hall meeting with staff and other issues, which may run over, and there are other issues that have come up.

Question:? But these were# that was pre-planned, wasn*t it? ?I mean, it raises the question that the only problem is that he*s scheduled to give a news conference on the same day as the Middle East peace plan and would face some difficult questions.? [cross talk]

Spokesman:? I think the Secretary?General is experienced and can face difficult questions.

Question:? Okay.? My question is on the Middle East peace plan.? Has the Secretary-General been given an advanced copy by the US Administration?

Spokesman:? I*m not aware of that, and at this point, obviously, we have to see what the release is, and I have no other comment.

Question:? So, if he hasn*t been given, you*re not aware of an advanced copy being given to the Secretary?General, does he believe that, given his very important role in this, as a member of the Quartet, as the Secretary?General of the United Nations, where the UN is, where all the Security Council resolutions are# does he feel that it*s disrespectful of the Trump Administration not to be consulting him and giving him an advanced copy?

Spokesman:? As I said, I think we all have to wait for this plan to be released, whenever that will be.? We will have further comment at that time.? In the meantime, the Secretary?General*s own positions on it have not changed.

Question:? You didn*t answer my question, though: ?Does he believe it*s disrespectful# [cross talk]

Spokesman:? I answered it to the best of my ability. Yes, Madame?

Question:? Follow?up on the same subject.? Do you# was he consulted in any of the# if# you said he wasn*t given any advance copy of the plan.? Was he consulted or his envoy in Jerusalem was consulted regarding this plan anytime?

Spokesman:? Over the last three years or two# I mean, since the Secretary# since the announcement of# that the plan would be coming, there had been contacts at various levels, including the Secretary?General and Mr.?[Nickolay] Mladenov.

Question:? So, are you saying that you are aware of the details of the plan, or what exactly are you saying?

Spokesman:? No, that*s# I*m just saying that there have been conversation over the last two# two, three years on this but# and I will leave it at that.

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Question:? Yeah.? Just, actually, it*s a follow?up, although I have a separate one on Libya, but it*s also# all the time raises the question, St谷phane, how much UN is involved in these kind of processes, whether it*s more passive, more active role.? So, what# how would you characterise the involvement of the UN?

Spokesman:? Our involvement is regulated through relevant Security Council resolutions.? We have a Special Coordinator on the ground, Mr.?Mladenov, and as you know, the UN has extensive humanitarian operations in the area.

Question:? And what would be the leadership of the Secretary?General in that direction, to move a little bit forward beside that#? [cross talk]

Spokesman:? I think the Secretary?General*s position on the Middle East peace process are regularly shared with you through public briefings in the Security Council.

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Question:? Thank you, Steph.? Back to the peace plan.? It seems that the plan will address the borders issue.? So, can you please remind us, what*s the UN position on Israel*s borders and the Palestinian state border#?

Spokesman:? The Secretary?General, the UN*s position are reflected every month or more than once a month in the Security Council briefings.? And you can refer those# to that.? His# Secretary?General*s positions are unchanged.

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Question:? Thanks, St谷phane.? It*s another question on the Middle East peace plan.? You said a few times that the Secretary?General# his position hasn*t changed.? It*s been stated in the Security Council again and again.? Are you saying that you don*t think now is a time to make any changes to this? ?Or are you willing to see what the Americans put forward tomorrow and are you willing to# [cross talk]

Spokesman:? I*m not# that*s not# All I*m saying is that the Secretary-General*s positions are unchanged, and they*ve been related to you repeatedly.

Question:? Does he have an open mind then? ?Is he willing to look again at some of these bedrock principles?

Spokesman:? I will leave it at that for the time being.? Yes, Madame?

Question:? A follow?up on Middle East plan.? So, let me preface my question this way.? So, does the Secretary?General# or is the Secretary?General disappointed regarding the fact that a peace plan will be announced# so?called peace plan will be announced tomorrow when# where a part# a partner or a main partner to this plan is made absent? ?So, what*s your comment on that?

Spokesman:? I*m not# I understand what you all are trying to get and what you need# [laughter] # but I*m not going to get into saying anything further until there*s an announcement.

Question:? No, but I*m not asking about the plan itself.

Spokesman:? No, no, I# [cross talk]

Question:? I*m asking about a fact that somebody who is a main partner is made absent.

Spokesman:? No, I understand, but I will not get into it.

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For information media. Not an official record.


Document Type: Highlights of the Noon Briefing
Document Sources: Secretary-General
Country: United States of America
Subject: Peace proposals and efforts
Publication Date: 27/01/2020
URL source: /press/en/2020/db200127.doc.htm