Tripoli, 3 November:
Canada has welcomed the approval of Ali Zeidan’s new government by the National Congress on 31 October.
“Canada welcomes the . . .[restrict]appointment of a new Libyan cabinet and recognises the great strides the Libyan people are making in establishing a new democracy”, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement.
“Canada is committed to a free Libya and supports its transition to a stable, secure democracy, which will provide a foundation for commercial activities and economic development. We will continue to assist Libya in moving forward on the path of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
“Libya’s interim government is grappling with a number of challenges, including controlling its disparate militias, securing large stockpiles of weapons, closing porous borders, preparing for upcoming elections, drafting a new constitution, and promoting human rights and national reconciliation.
“Canada applauds Libya’s General National Congress for approving the cabinet that Prime Minister Ali Zeidan nominated on October 30, 2012, and looks forward to working with the Libyan government.”
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