With the controversy over President Arroyo’s alleged lavish New York dinner during her recent visit to the United States still fresh in the public mind, the President will return to the Big Apple next month for the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 15.

The President will attend the UN session along with 191 other heads of states, including US President Barack Obama.

The president will also visit Saudi Arabia and Britain within the year.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the President will attend the opening session of the UN body on September 15 at 3 p.m. (New York time). It will be the President’s last General Assembly appearance before her term expires in June next year.

She is also expected to meet Obama again after their July 30 one-on-one at the Oval Office in Washington, DC.

Last year, the President addressed the UN session and stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue in fostering a culture of peace among nations.

Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello said the President will be accompanied by a lean delegation during her “short” three-nation swing because Congress is in session, meaning few lawmakers would be able to go with her. Details of her trips have yet to be discussed.

“Hindi pa natin alam ang detalye sa biyahe ni PGMA kasi di pa napapag-usapan yan pero siguro naman, itong biyahe niyang ito ay medyo maiksi at medyo malayo. I think it will be a very, very lean delegation,” he said in a radio interview.

During the President’s recent trip to the United States from July 29 to August 3, she was accompanied by First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo and more than 20 congressmen, including presidential son Camarines Sur Rep. Dato Arroyo.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo earlier bared the President’s state visit to Saudi Arabia and her visit to London for a speaking engagement in an international forum hosted by the London-based magazine, The Economist.

In 2006, Mrs. Arroyo had a working visit to Riyadh where she secured the release of Filipino workers languishing in Saudi jails. Her visit this year will be her second to the oil-rich kingdom.

She also visited other Middle East countries, including Egypt and Syria, from May 1 to 5 this year.

The President’s last US trip, which was cut short to attend the late President Corazon Aquino’s funeral wake, was her 72nd foreign trip since she assumed office in 2001.

Her new foreign trips will bring to 44 the countries she would visit as president. It will also be her 17th visit to the US, a clear sign of the importance she is giving to the nation’s relationship with the world’s remaining superpower.