Libya to participate in EU talks

Prime Minister of the interim Libyan government Ali Zeidan is to visit the Belgium capital Brussels, to meet European politicians in the headquarters of the European Union. According to a statement issued by the prime minister the visit comes within the framework of restoring Libya's regional and global role. Zeidan will meet the secretary of NATO, the president of the European Commission, EU council president, the European Parliament president and the deputy prime minister of Belgium to discuss how Libya can strengthen relations and cooperation with the European Union. Zeidan will brief the EU and NATO representatives on the steps taken by his government to establish a state of law, and how Libya is transforming from revolution to a state. The visit comes after the approval of the European Union to send a technical mission to help Libya protect and secure its border. Due to the EU financial crisis the visit has been hailed as having vast economic importance in view of what Libya can offer them from in the fields of oil, gas, and reconstruction. Although local analysts and observers believe that the aim of the visit is primarily a security one, especially in light of the interim government's inability to control the country's crime. Libyan parties have accused Zeidan of threatening to bring foreign forces to maintain security within the country, following his visit to the UN Security Council earlier this year. The Libyan government is facing many difficulties in imposing its control on the ground, and implementing its security and development plans. Press reports have indicated that active members of al-Qaeda operate in the Libyan political scene, aided by the absence of state security institutions. Meanwhile, Nigerian President Mohammed Issoufou accused Libya of being the source of instability in the Sahel area. Issoufou warned against attacks after Libyan islamists carried out suicide bombings on a military base and a French uranium mine north of Niger. This is not the first time Libya is charged of destabilising the region. The Chadian president has previously accused it of harboring groups hostile groups and training them on Libyan territories