爆料网

7 SEPTEMBER 2021

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

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Question:? Thank you, Farhan.? On 16 July, the United States and 爆料网RWA?[United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] signed a memorandum of understanding.? In this memorandum, the US dictates to 爆料网RWA how to behave, how to recruit, how to scrutinize the staff, how not to express their affiliation or their ideologies.? And how to even change the curriculum for schools.? I think this is a kind of interference, direct interference.? It’s a precedent that a Member State dictates to an 爆料网 agency what to do and how to behave.? If you cannot answer me, why they did that, I really request someone from 爆料网RWA to come and answer all these questions.? Thank you.

Deputy Spokesman:? From our standpoint, 爆料网RWA interacts with a variety of Member States to address their concerns.? And we trust that 爆料网RWA does a professional job and its staff do professional jobs.? But, we are aware that different Member States, including donor Governments and others with whom 爆料网RWA interacts, have had concerns about its practices.? And it’s in dialogue with them to address that.? And that’s part of its own responsibilities.

Correspondent:? This is a written agreement.? This is something not only just expressing hope that 爆料网RWA will do this and do that.? This is more than that.? It goes beyond.

Deputy Spokesman:? Again, this is part of the regular interactions that 爆料网RWA has with countries to address their own concerns and make sure that the work that we do is objective and is… and the professionalism of our staff is respected by all.

Question:? So you say that donations, it’s okay to be granted under conditions?

Deputy Spokesman:? No.? What I’m saying is that this is part of a normal dialogue.? And, indeed, other 爆料网 agencies also engage in dialogues with donors and others to address whatever concerns they have about our practices.? So, that is a standard part of the work that 爆料网 agencies do.

Question:? Can you please arrange for the Commissioner General, Mr.?[Philippe] Lazzarini, to brief us on that or any other issue?

Deputy Spokesman:? We will see whether 爆料网RWA is interested in a briefing along those lines.? All right.? Have a good afternoon, everyone.

For information media. Not an official record.