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Saudi Arabia’s U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi told reporters shortly afterward that “It is our firm belief that this de-listing is final, irreversible and unconditional, and when all the facts are in that will be further reconfirmed.”

He denied that Saudi Arabia used “threats or intimidation” in its contacts with the secretary-general saying “it is not in our nature to conduct ourselves in any such aggressive style.” Al-Mouallimi said the government pointed out that the Saudis were not contacted about the report’s conclusions as required, and therefore only one side was reflected, which made its findings “wrong.”

“We did say such listing and such unfair treatment of Saudi Arabia and the coalition forces would obviously have an impact on relations with the United Nations,” Al-Mouallimi said.

But he denied talking about defunding the UN agency for Palestinian refugees “or anything else for that matter.”

Al-Mouallimi said he wouldn’t be surprised if “tens of countries” told the secretary-general that his listing of the coalition was unacceptable, citing statements from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council criticizing the report.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said later that “both the Yemenis and the Saudi’s were consulted in early March on the content of the report.”

U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner, speaking to reporters in Washington, said the United States agrees with the secretary-general “that the U.N. should be permitted to carry out its mandate, carry out its responsibilities, without fear of money being cut off.”

He acknowledged that the U.S. in the past has withheld and threatened to keep funds from the UN, explaining that the administration believes that on issues such as protecting children the UN should be able “to report objectively … without fear of reprisal.”