Hope for peace in Iraq

The great and special weight Iraq exerts on the Middle East and the world was reflected in Saturday's high-profile conference on restoring stability in Iraq. Hopefully the Baghdad meeting will be a meaningful step forward.

Especially important was the participation of Syria and Iran, two countries that the United States had refused to talk to.

It is hoped that the conference will pave the way for dialogue between the US and the countries in the region, particularly Iraq's neighbors. They could have a significant role in stabilizing the violence that is destroying the country.