A top U.S. aid official says the United States will pledge around $400 million at Friday’s international donor conference for Kosovo.

Officials hope euro1.5 billion ($2.36 billion) will be raised to bolster democratic, law and order reforms and to help pay for infrastructure such as schools, roads and energy plants.

Henrietta Holsman Fore, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, said Thursday that about $150 million (euro95.5 million) of the US pledge will go toward debt relief.

Serbia, with strong backing from Russia, remains vehemently opposed to Kosovo’s split from Belgrade. Both have vowed to block Kosovo from joining international institutions such as the United Nations through which it could get more funding and aid.

“It is the newest nation, a small nation, but in a very important moment in its history and one that deserves backing from all of us,” Fore told reporters. “The United States will come in with a strong pledge and we are hoping that the other countries will do the same.”

The European Commission has already set aside euro1 billion ($1.57 billion) for 2007-2010 in aid for Kosovo.

The Balkan nation is one of the poorest in Europe, with an unemployment rate of 40 percent, the EU says. American and European officials say building up infrastructure will help to attract much-needed investment to spark economic growth.

Since Kosovo broke with Serbia in February, 42 nations have recognized its independence, including the U.S. and 20 of the 27 EU members.