Davutoglu in Beirut for ESCWA Conference, Could Meet with March 14

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the former head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, are among the high-level dignitaries who would attend a U.N. conference on democracy in the Arab world over the weekend, al-Liwaa daily reported.

The newspaper said Wednesday that Davutoglu and Moussa will address the "Reform and Transitions to Democracy" conference which will also see U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon as a keynote speaker.

A diplomatic source close to the March 14-led opposition expected the foreign minister to hold talks with several of the coalition’s officials. But the source refused to reveal whether there was any planned meeting between Davutoglu and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat.

Al-Liwaa’s source also remained mum on possible meetings with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati.

But An Nahar daily said that Davutoglu will discuss with Lebanese officials oil exploration and the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

The two-day conference is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Some 50 high-level Arab and international policymakers, academics and development experts have been invited to the meet.

Ban arrives in Beirut on Friday.