I am CEO of a NGO located in Geneva tasked with the disbursement of funds provided by the international community. I attended the Migration Summit recently held on this beautiful island and I should like to express an opinion or two on what was resolved.

First, on migration, the EU has pledged a large sum to help build infrastructure and agriculture in the African heartlands so that people will choose to stay rather than embark on the risky journey to Europe.

When the amount of support was discussed I discerned an almost palpable sense of disappointment among the representatives of the African nations – was the amount too low?

So, I was greatly heartened later by the approach of one of their leaders who wanted – almost insisted – on giving me his personal bank account details assuring me that any cash paid into it would be, in his words, “well looked after”.

The other matter was, of course, the war in Syria – also linked to migration. Here there was a momentum towards a time without the presence of Syria’s controversial leader Assad, seen as a major stumbling block to a solution of the problems of that be-nighted land.

Russia seems now to incline to this course. All that is required is for all of those who yearn for peace to come together in good faith.

I was discretely informed that Islamic State is willing to attend a future conference but they request as a token of goodwill that the meeting will be held in a much more relaxed atmosphere without a heavy security presence and that the gathering takes place in a large indoor venue as can be arranged and to be witnessed by as many of the great and the good that can be housed. Although this requires a leap of faith I for one wholeheartedly support it.