“The assembly’s budget body, the Fifth Committee, holds marathon negotiations in December each year on spending and national contributions. These often last all night for several days in a row so that a vote can be held before the end of year holidays. Some envoys have turned up for talks ‘falling down drunk,’ said one diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. ‘On one occasion the note-taker who was meant to be recording the talks was so intoxicated he had to be replaced,’ said another. Both spoke on condition of anonymity.”
