Turkish Foreign Minister attends Libya security meeting in Paris

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is among the ministers and senior diplomats of countries that helped oust Muammar Gaddafi meeting in Paris on Tuesday to discuss how to stabilize Libya, which has been beset by security problems since the late dictator was toppled. France, which led international efforts to oust Gaddafi, is convening officials from Turkey, the United States, Britain, Arab nations, the United Nations and the European Union for Tuesday's meeting in Paris. A statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said the meeting in Paris will be to determine Libya's needs in security co-operation, the legal system and the rule of law, and ways to address these needs. The statement said the meeting is aimed at stepping up Libya's security and stability. Davutoglu is also scheduled to meet with his French counterpart, Laurent Fabius, on the sidelines of the Paris meeting on Libyan security. Sources said Davutoglu will discuss EU membership talks with Turkey and the issue of lifting political obstacles that the previous French government put forward, during talks with Fabius. The incumbent French government earlier said it is determined to unblock one or two EU negotiation chapters in upcoming months in a bid to revive Turkey's membership bid. No chapter has been opened since 2010. Fabius and Davutoglu were scheduled to hold talks in Munich last week on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference but the French foreign minister had to accompany President Francois Hollande on his trip to Mali so the talks were postponed. The sources added that Fabius will brief Davutoglu on the French government's new position on Turkey's EU membership talks. France is planning to unblock the 22nd chapter, on regional politics, and the 17th chapter, on the economy, as an initial step. Fabius and Davutoglu will also discuss Hollande's visit to Turkey planned for this year.