OTTAWA – Canada has reopened the doors of diplomacy with Libya welcoming an interim charge d’affaires recommended by the rebel-backed authority to the Libyan embassy in Ottawa.
“I’m pleased to welcome Abubaker Karmos, an appointee of the National Transitional Council of Libya as charge d’affaires ad interim at the Embassy in Libya in Canada,” foreign affairs minister John Baird said in a statement.
Karmos’ arrival comes three months after the Canadian government expelled five diplomats working at the embassy in Ottawa. The embassy was formally shuttered on Aug. 8.
Canada’s embassy operations in Libya were also shut down in response to Moammar Gadhafi’s crackdown on civilians protesting his regime.
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The brutal battle between rebels and Gadhafi forces for control of the country has been raging for months and came to a head this week as rebels stormed Gadhafi’s massive compound in Tripoli on Wednesday.
The rebels had been held out of the capital city for months even as NATO enforced a no-fly zone in the country. Rebel forces have yet to find Gadhafi.
The National Transitional Council, which appointed Karmos, has been recognized by Canada, the Arab League and others in the international community as the legitimate representatives of the Libyan regime.
“Canada will interact with the NTC as Libya’s government until the Libyan people select for themselves elected representatives,” Baird said. “Canada urges all Libyans to immediately undertake a process of national reconciliation. We will support the NTC in developing governance and democratic institutional reforms.”
Baird also said the new Libyan flag now hangs in the lobby of the Foreign Affairs headquarters, along with those from the rest of the world’s nations.
Karmos received diplomatic accreditation Thursday morning and has started the job, Baird said.
Baird said Karmos’ first action was to thank the Canadian government and people for their support against “tyranny.”
Baird also announced the Canada will re-staff the Canadian embassy in Tripoli when security allows.
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