One of the most positive and heartening aspects of this summer period has been the relative calm at normally volatile interfaces.
Given that recent years have seen quite shocking levels of sectarian violence which have caused widespread terror and distress, the reduction in street disturbances will be greeted with relief by residents living in the affected areas.
Those who have been working hard behind the scenes to achieve this positive situation deserve considerable credit.
And, while it is early days, this improved picture will provide hope to those who despaired that this intractable problem could ever be resolved.
However, one of the dangers in a city where opposing factions live in close proximity is the possibility that trouble may erupt almost anywhere.
A potentially serious situation has been developing in recent weeks near the Broadway roundabout in west Belfast following a sectarian attack on an 11-year-old boy who is profoundly deaf.
The boy, who was walking near Broadway roundabout, was attacked by a gang of nationalist youths who ripped off his Rangers shirt and set it alight.
The child's mother said he tried to escape by running onto the M1 motorway and clearly this incident could have had tragic consequences.
This was an appalling attack which must be totally condemned.
However, it is entirely wrong for anyone to use this boy's ordeal as an excuse to create mayhem.
Fortunately, attempts are being made to resolve this matter before the situation deteriorates further.
The lesson of the past few years is that interface violence is relatively easy to start but extremely difficult to stop and the repercussions can be devastating.
At this early stage, the signs are certainly encouraging and there will be real hope that tensions at the Broadway roundabout can be defused and rioting ended.
