UN General Assembly
2007

development of peacekeeping operations on the ground. It is possible to defeat poverty. It is an ethical and political duty, a duty that Spain is firmly determined to shoulder. I am pleased and proud to say that my country today is the eighth-largest contributor to the United Nations system; our goal is to devote 0.7 per cent of our gross domestic product to development aid by 2012. In only three years, backed by political and social consensus, we have reinforced cooperation and increased its volume to nearly €4.5 billion this year. Spain has expressed profound solidarity with and commitment to the goals set forth in the alliance against hunger and poverty. We want access to drinking water and sanitation to be a universally enjoyed right. Water will be the central theme at International Expo Zaragoza 2008. That event will give participating countries and visitors insights into the fundamental aspects of water in the twenty-first century, such as the environment, international cooperation and prospects for scientific, technological and economic management. I encourage and invite members to participate in the 2008 Zaragoza