George Papandreou, the new foreign minister, helped smooth over an awkward row between the Albanian and Macedonian prime ministers when the Macedonians at first tried to keep out thousands of the refugees.

ECONOMIST: Orthodox��but unorthodox

Could it in fact be something that helps smooth over a tough situation with a foreign country?

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Of course, they still need some reserves, to smooth out temporary gaps in the demand and supply of foreign currency.

ECONOMIST: Intervention: divine or comic?

Some politicians and diplomats who have met Maduro, who was Chavez's foreign minister for six years, describe him as a smooth negotiator.

NPR: Chavez Heir Begins 6-Year Term With Weak Mandate

And Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett urged Mr Blair and Gordon Brown to ensure a smooth transition of power.

BBC: Trident nuclear submarine

If only things were as smooth for U.S. undersecretary of state Thomas Pickering, who met with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan three days later on June 16.

CNN: DELICATE MISSION TO CHINA

South Korea's foreign ministry also welcomed the agreement and said faithful implementation of the steps by North Korea would smooth the way for the talks.

WSJ: North Korea Agrees to Nuclear Moratorium