Canada welcomed on Wednesday Mali’s adoption of a road map for its future, including a commitment to holding elections by July and negotiations with representatives from the north.
“It is important for the country to work toward free and fair presidential and legislative elections,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said in a statement.
“We are pleased that key actors in Mali appear committed to bridge a way forward that will restore democracy, constitutional order and territorial integrity to Mali,” he said.
A French-led military campaign has ousted Islamist groups from the major towns of Mali’s desert north, which they had controlled since last April.
In the long-term, however, Paris regards a political settlement between the government in Bamako and Tuaregs seeking a degree of self-rule as crucial to the stability of the country.
Ottawa last week extended the tour for a military transport aircraft supporting the French and Malian troops which are battling Islamist rebels, but rejected calls for Canadian combat troops.
The C-17 will continue ferrying military supplies from France to the Malian capital Bamako until February 15.
Canada welcomes Mali road map
