VIENNA (AP) — As top diplomats begin meeting on bringing peace to Libya, Germany's foreign minister says it is too early to say whether talks will succeed in moving toward that goal.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke to reporters Monday shortly before foreign ministers or their deputies from more than 20 nations began their discussions with top representatives of Libya's internationally recognized government.

He says that with chaos still rampant, it is an open question whether the talks will succeed in nudging Libya from "a place ... where terrorism, human smuggling and criminal instability expands" and toward re-establishing Libya's unity.

Monday's meeting is being convened by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni of Italy, the former colonial power that ruled Libya.