The European Union has agreed to donate 500,000 euros (US $497,305) to cover the cost of efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to mediate in Cote d'Ivoire's conflict, the European Commission reported on 2 December. An agreement to this effect was signed on Friday by Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid and ECOWAS Secretary-General Mohamed Ibn Chambas at the annual EU-ECOWAS ministerial meeting, held in Ouagadougou. The funds are to be placed at disposal of the ECOWAS Secretariat from next week, the release said. They are to be used to finance mediation meetings, expenses of the mediation secretariat in Cote d'Ivoire and a conference which the mediators are planning to hold in Abuja.
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