Alex Salmond has urged people in Scotland not to wonder “what might have been” the morning after the referendum.
Instead, the first minister said, he hopes people would be “filled with hope and expectation” the day after the historic ballot.
With voters due to decide whether or not the country should remain part of the UK on September 18, Mr Salmond and the leaders of the other main parties focused on the crucial vote in their New Year messages.
While the SNP leader called on people to make 2014 the “year we take responsibility for shaping our own future”, his opponents say they are confident voters will opt to vote ‘No’.
With Scotland also due to host the Commonwealth Games and golf’s Ryder Cup, as well as staging the second Year of Homecoming, Mr Salmond said: “2014 will be a truly amazing year, one where the eyes of the world will be on Scotland.”
The debate about Scotland’s future should be a “constructive one” in which campaigners “respect each other’s views, regardless of how passionately we hold our own”, said the first minister.
“Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but we need to ensure that prosperity is shared more fairly. We have oil and gas resources for many decades to come, but we have to harness the green-energy wealth which will last forever.”
The first minister added: “The best people to take decisions about Scotland’s future must be the people who live and work in Scotland.”
In her message, Labour leader Johann Lamont questioned how others will view the debate.
“Will they see a healthy and invigorating debate about how we best co-operate and engage with our neighbours?” she asked.
“Or will they see a divided country which has turned in on itself?”
Politicians on both sides have “a duty to show the best of Scotland and shape the debate to ensure it is inspiring”.
Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said 2014 would be a “pivotal year in Scotland’s history”.
The choice offered to voters in the independence referendum is “stark”, she said. “On one hand is the irreversible break of independence. On the other is a choice to renew that partnership of nations and further strengthen devolution.”
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “I am confident we’ll reaffirm Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom family of nations. We won’t undermine progress by splitting Scotland from the UK.”