The foreign ministry has been gaining influence since Mr Primakov took charge, the more so since Mr Yeltsin's failing powers began restricting his capacity for summit diplomacy.

ECONOMIST: Still most awkward partners

Seven days of intense diplomacy before a European summit at the end of next week.

BBC: Eurozone solution in sight?

Instead of concentrating on fanfare diplomacy, like the Balkan summit France wants to convene, West European governments should be looking for ways to show their good faith to sceptics in both Serbia and Montenegro.

ECONOMIST: Matching Milosevic

In North Korea, he staked his claim to a part in the diplomacy after last month's historic summit between North and South Korea.

ECONOMIST: A more realistic Russia

What we do know, what the Xi-Putin summit attests, is that U.S. diplomacy over the past four years has failed to effectively engage and motivate China to chart a course that is positive for U.S. interests.

FORBES: Connect

This year's summit was organised to allow more time for behind-the-scenes diplomacy: North Korea's foreign minister was in attendance, and met both Mr Powell and others involved in the six-way talks on the North's nuclear programmes.

ECONOMIST: Let a hundred forums bloom

Intense diplomacy will follow in coming weeks, with Obama headed to the NATO summit next week in Strasbourg, France, to meet with U.S. allies, and Clinton to The Hague on March 21 to attend a U.N. meeting.

CNN: Officials: Afghanistan strategy formed with great deliberation