Sunday's consensus statement forcefully reopened diplomatic channels to the combatants; United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan left the meeting charged with advancing broad as well as narrow peace plans; and stumbling rescue plans, including Canada's, are expected to find momentum by midweek.
There's more. Once again, a peacekeeping mission is in the wind — although no one here, including Canada, is ready to commit troops — along with a forecast that Cold War enemies will come together to solve one of the world's most intractable conflicts.
So, is the Middle East finally tracking toward a comprehensive settlement? That hope is wildly premature.
Leaders here acted because the options were worse. Caught in the crosshairs of world attention, they were forced to choose between compromise and being ridiculed.
For a group that Russian President Vladimir Putin described as building new international architecture, that's an easy choice.
Failure would have reduced to good intentions other decisions on energy security and control of infectious disease, to the role of education and innovation in modern economies.
That would be a shame. Midas spending and bloated egos aside, leaders made some progress on things that matter, including salvaging trade talks that remain the best chance to erode poverty.
Toronto Star
[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on July 19, 2006]
Note: Toronto Star
Stumble It!