BRUSSELS
The European Union (EU) pledged 520 million euros in aid for Mali on Tuesday on the eve of an international donors conference hosted in Brussels.
"I am announcing that the EU will pledge 520 million euros for 2013 and 2014 at the donor conference for Mali," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in the press conference with Mali's Interim President Dioncounda Traore.
The funding, promised for 2013-14, represents an initial step towards the 2 billion euros that Wednesday's donor conference aims to raise for Mali's recovery program, with Bamako putting up an additional 2.3 billion euros.
France declared that it would extend to its old colony 280 million euros till the end of 2014.
Traoe expressed his determination to hold presidential elections by the end of July, adding that he would not run for the president.
Turkish Minister of Development Cevdet Yilmaz will represent Turkey at the donor conference for Mali in Brussels on Wednesday.
