But on this afternoon, HBO's since-promoted Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo took the stage to deliver a different kind of message or, more specifically, salutation: Welcome to HBO's next chapter.

FORBES: Welcome To HBO's Next Chapter

The US had communicated to the Libyan government that "such a welcome sends the wrong message and is deeply offensive to the families of the hundreds of people who lost their lives in the Lockerbie bombing", the White House said.

BBC: Libya warned over Lockerbie man

Meanwhile, Mr Blair's ceremonial welcome in Dublin is intended to reinforce the message that, whatever becomes of that agreement, the British-Irish entente will continue to be cordial.

ECONOMIST: Anglo-Irish relations