Yesterday, Canada congratulated Libya on the occasion of its 71st Independence Day, which falls on December 24th every year, expressing hope that the year 2023 will bring the peace and stability that Libya greatly deserves.

This came in a brief statement published by the Canadian embassy in Libya through its account, retweeting a message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Abdullah Batil, to the Libyans on the anniversary of independence.

In his statement, Batil called on all political leaders in Libya to be a driving force to resolve the long-standing Libyan crisis, through agreement on a solution based on national consensus, and to "avoid any escalatory actions that would threaten Libya’s already fragile unity and stability."

Likewise, Batil urged Libyans of various orientations to make 2023 the beginning of a new era for the country, including through holding free and fair elections, affirming that the United Nations will spare no effort in working with all parties in a comprehensive, constructive, and firm manner at the same time, to support the Libyan factions in order to prevent deepening divisions and wasting more time. He concluded: "This is what the Libyan people want... and this is what they deserve."