Location, location, location is the mantra when it comes to buying property, but does it also hold when it comes to the hosting of major diplomatic events? If it does, what does the hosting of yesterday’s London Conference on Libya at Lancaster House tell us?
A positive take would stress the convenience of London in term of travel, although anyone who has travelled through Heathrow recently might not necessarily think that a major selling point.
No 10 will no doubt argue that it underlines Britain’s diplomatic cache. There is certainly no denying that Cameron has led from the front on this, but why not Paris, Brussels or even New York.
Brussels it appears was ruled out because the EU yet again fluffed its lines with its handling of Libya. Paris was a non starter given Sarkozy’s diplomatic run-ins with Turkey – NATOs only Muslim country, and New York was discounted because President Obama doesn’t want to be seen leading from the front on this.
So it’s London by default then. But, why hold it at Lancaster House?
The answer to this question probably lies with its state of the art conference facilities and its proximity to the FCO and No 10.
Gideon Rachman, the foreign affairs editor at The Financial Times, reminds us however in his blog yesterday that Lancaster House was the scene of the long negotiations culminating with Zimbabwe’s independence. Not a particularly encouraging precedent.
Carl Bildt the Swedish Foreign Minister tweeted yesterday on route to the Conference: “Lancaster House mtg again. I remember those on Bosnia and Afghanistan in past years. Now is Libya. Next…..”
If the location of this conference tells us anything therefore it is to be alert to the very real political divisions and international sensitivities that surround the search for a political settlement in Libya.
Past Lancaster House Conferences should warn us to treat with suspicion any post Conference statement suggesting that securing a just and lasting peace in Libya is going to be easy – it won’t be, it never is.
