As he talked, compelling as ever, the mood in the room changed.

I smile coyly, as I usually do, when he successfully overcomes my attempts at outsmarting him.

South South cooperation is essential, but as it always serves the interests of the countries involved it is carried out in a serious and aggressive way, because it is also sometimes used as a method of expanding the national interests of large emerging countries.

The current cease fire, however, will be as short lived as many others before it its terms are practically identical to those that ended Operation Cast Lead if Israel does not follow up with a vigorous peace initiative on the broader Palestinian front.