U.S., Europe pledge aid to help Kosovo

BRUSSELS, July 11 (UPI) -- International donors have made pledges of almost one billion euros to help rebuild the newly independent state of Kosovo.

The United States offered some $401 million dollars -- 255 million euros -- of the total $1.58 billion dollars pledged. The European Commission signaled it would give 500 million euros of aid, about $786.8 dollars.

The move, announced at a donors conference in Brussels, was regarded as a major step toward bolstering Kosovo's ailing economy, Deutsche Welle, the German news agency, reported.

At least half of the EU states are pledging individual contributions.

Spain, which has not yet recognized Kosovo, said it would offer humanitarian aid.

Kosovo, which seceded from Serbia in February, is one of Europe's most underdeveloped economies, highly dependent on foreign subsidies.