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OPT: Daily press briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General and the Spokesperson for the General Assembly President

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Michèle Montas, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, and Enrique Yeves, Spokesperson for the General Assembly President.

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**Questions and Answers

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Question: I have a question about a figure, which the Secretary-General announced in his last new conference, about $11 million, which he will ask Israel to pay for compensation of damages on the UN quarters. And my question is will this amount of money also include compensation to the people who were killed or injured in those attacks, or is this just material financial compensation?

Spokesperson: I don't have the exact -- the ballpoint figure was $11 million, you are right -- I think probably does include compensation.

Question: And is it possible to change this figure? You know, is this an initial estimate?

Spokesperson: This is an initial estimate. You know, of course, there will be [more detailed] evaluations done.

Question: So someone who was killed or injured in those attacks -- they are able to get compensation from this amount?

Spokesperson: I cannot say for sure. I have to find out for you what the exact terms of the compensations will be, because they are going to be determined.

Question: Why did the Secretary-General call for the meeting this afternoon with the Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman? Can you outline perhaps what's on the agenda?

Spokesperson: The agenda will always be the issue of settlements, it is one [item] on the agenda, the issue of a two-State solution, which the UN, as you know, supports very strongly, and the issue of Gaza, and of course, opening the crossings to Gaza.

Question: Can I ask if there's going to be two other issues? Lieberman has said that there must be change in Iranian policy, no matter who becomes the President. Is that likely to be discussed?

Spokesperson: I don't know. What I will do is give you a read-out after the meeting. Okay? That's the best I can do, really. Yes, Masood?

Question: Thank you, Michèle. Can you tell me...

Spokesperson: You finally got an answer to your question today, didn't you?

Question: [laughter] Is there a timeline on that, on the Commission's work?

Spokesperson: Six months.

For information media - not an official record