(No. 245 - August 25, 2011 - 3:45 p.m. ET) Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:
“I am pleased to welcome Abubaker Karmos, appointee of the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya, as chargé d'affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Libya in Canada. Mr. Karmos’ accreditation by Canada was completed this morning and he has already assumed his functions.
“Canada will interact with the NTC as Libya’s government until the Libyan people select for themselves elected representatives.
“The NTC flag now hangs among those of the world’s nations in the lobby of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada headquarters in Ottawa.
“Mr. Karmos thanked the Government of Canada and the Canadian people for their strong and early support of the NTC’s struggle against tyranny.
“Canada urges all Libyans to immediately undertake a process of national reconciliation. We will support the NTC in developing governance and democratic institutional reforms.
“When security permits, Canada intends to resume normal operations at the Canadian embassy in Tripoli.”
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