3 MARCH 2020

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

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**Questions and Answers

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Question:? Good afternoon.? Question on the UN Committee for the Inalienable Rights of Palestinians.? They’re in a delegation right now to India to talk about the possible role for India as a mediator in the Israel?Palestinian conflict.? I want to ask you, of all the countries that have good relationships with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, why this Committee¡­ why this effort to approach India, as opposed to any other mutually friendly country?

Spokesman:? That’s a question you have to ask the Committee Chair.? It’s a committee of Member States.? We, as the Secretariat, do not decide or direct them to where they travel.? It’s a Member State¡­ it’s a legislative Member State committee.? It’s up to them to see where they want to go.

Question:? Does the Secretary?General feel there can be a different mediator in this process?

Spokesman:? It’s not for the Secretary?General to comment on their work.

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For information media. Not an official record.