15 September 2011

• The highlight of the General Assembly debate will be on 21 September when several key heads of state, including the President of the Host Country, the United States, France and others, will be speaking before a collective lunch by the Secretary General. Expect traffic delays on Manhattan's East Side.
  
  

• Visits by senior officials usually allow for social gatherings with political cover, mainly as backchannels for discreet contacts. Expect efforts by Qatar, the country that chairs this year's Assembly, to open its new mansion with new and renewable sources of energy.
  
  

• Following the debate of about ten days, real work starts with various committees. Expect difficulties in the Fifth Committee which will be dealing with the budget.