The Acting Spanish President, Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, cited the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as the key focus of his governments development and cooperation policies, while giving his inaugural speech in the Spanish Parliament yesterday.

In front of the newly elected parliamentarians Zapatero stated, ”The United Nations will be our inspiration for our cooperation and development policy, through the Millennium Development Goals. The UN will also be our guide in the external action of Spain, stressing our support to peacekeeping operations. “

Zapatero also restated his commitment to reach 0,7% of Spanish Gross National Product (GNP for Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2012. “My conception of Spain, ladies and gentlemen, is a generous country supporting the fight against poverty. Thus, we are going to dedicate 0.7 per cent of our gross domestic product to official development assistance in by 2012.”