By Daniel Bates
Last updated at 1:37 PM on 22nd September 2011
They are supposed to be working out ways to solve the world's biggest problems.
But diplomats attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York have so far spent more time pampering and preening themselves at a string of luxury hotels, MailOnline can reveal.
World leaders and their aides have been going on expensive shopping trips and taking trips to spas in between delicate negotiations on climate change.
Dozens even enjoyed a $300 a head champagne dinner with Arnold Schwarzenegger at an exclusive Italian eatery.
Fine dining: UN diplomats had a $300-a-head lunch with Arnold Schwarzenegger at Nello in the Upper East Side. He is here pictured outside the restaurant
Indulgence: Argentinian president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, left, bought $110,000 worth of Louboutin shoes before arriving in New York, while Moroccan foreign minister Taieb Fassi Fihri has dined at Harry Cipriani in the city
The worst offender has been Rwandan President Paul Kagame who is staying in the $16,000-per-night presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
The basic bill per day is 15 times the annual salary of his countrymen back home, which is a paltry $1,150.
Over the past week thousands of delegates have descended on New York for the
UN's General Assembly, but whilst in the city few have passed up the opportunity
to enjoy its hospitality.
Amongst the most popular restaurants has been Nello on the Upper East Side
where dozens of dignitaries and their wives have been enjoying the special menu
created by owner Nello Balan.
For $300 they have enjoyed 1985 vintage Dom Perignon and Cristal champagne, white truffles, Dover sole, lobster salad and pasta.
All right for some: The $16,000-a-night presidential suite at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, left, where Rwanda president Paul Kagame, right, is staying. His citizens earn on average $1,150 a year
Greetings: Hollywood stars Pierce Brosnan, left, and Matt Damon, right, were also hobnobbing with diplomats at the high-priced restaurant
Mr Balan said that guests have come at both lunch and dinner - some drinking steadily all the while - and stayed for as long as three hours.
He said: 'On one of the evenings when there was a large group of people from the Middle East here Arnold Schwarzenegger was also here with some business associates.
'He shook hands with some of the diplomats and said hello and seemed to get on well with them.
'Matt Damon and Pierce Brosnan have also been in here and met some people who had come here for the UN General Assembly.
Bespoke: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the ruling Emir of Qatar, reportedly spent a six figure sum on new clothes at Domenico Vacca
Big money: Saudi leaders are staying The Plaza and a group of them have been seen at the hotel's Warren-Tricomi salon
'Everyone has been very well behaved and polite - it is the way it should be at the United Nations.'
Mr Balan said that delegates had come from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Germany, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela and Italy to dine at his restaurant.
The groups ranged from four or five to more than a dozen, he said, and that wives often joined them
Another popular choice of restaurant has been Harry Cipriani, where Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri has been seen dining, as have dignitaries from Nigeria.
The menu at the restaurant includes Calves liver alla veneziana with polenta and Scampi thermidor whilst the extensive cocktail list features the house Bellini made up of Italian Prosecco and the juice of a white peach.
The menu on the restaurant's website does not have prices but food bloggers have pointed out it is so expensive that bread sticks alone cost $19.95.
A source confirmed the diplomats had been there and said: 'Everyone was on their best behaviour but there were so many security people everywhere it was ridiculous.
'We had blacked out SUVs halfway down the street. It looks like a movie premiere.'
Money no object: Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is at the Milennium UN, where suites cost $3,000 per night, while UN General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser has been to Domenico Vacca
Some diplomats from Egypt and Palestine including president Mahmoud Abbas have been seen at the Milennium UN where suites cost $3,000 per night.
Mr Kagame's presidential suite, however, appears to be the most expensive and opulent with its 'panoramic views of Central Park, the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline,' according to the Mandarin Hotel's website.
It goes on: 'It is the perfect retreat, complete in every way, with its separate large living and dining area, gourmet kitchen and Mozambique wood-paneled study.'
The 2,640sq ft suite also features a $100,000 state of the art Bang & Olufsen entertainment system, a 65 inch plasma screen TV and two baths along with a glass enclosed steam and shower for two.
No expense has been spared and the walls of the master bedroom have even been upholstered with silk.
The New York Post reported that Saudi leaders are staying The Plaza and a group of them have been seen at the hotel's Warren-Tricomi salon.
Welcome: Security has been hugely heightened by the arrival of UN delegates - but some of them have been living the expensive high life while in New York (pictured today)
Amongst the services on offer which their wives are likely to have taken
advantage of are manicures, pedicures, She Uemura hair treatment and hair
colouring.
The Post also reported that UN General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz
Al-Nasser and other Qatari royals have been seen at bespoke suit maker Domenico
Vacca.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the ruling Emir of Qatar, reportedly spent
a six figure sum on new clothes.
When MailOnline called Domenico Vacca a woman could be overheard saying to a
colleague: 'Shall I tell him no comment?' before saying: 'I don't know what
you're talking about. Can you call back later, we're really busy.'
For some heads of state, however, New York was not the scene of their most
gross largess.
Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner arrived in the city from
Paris where she reportedly bought 20 pairs of Louboutins at $5,500 a pair - a
total of $110,000
A spokeswoman for the Plaza Hotel said: 'It is our policy not to comment on
our guests.'
Nobody for the Mandarin Oriental or the Millennium UN hotel was available for comment.