The fourth World Water Forum ended in Mexico City Wednesday with the publication of the Declaration of Mexico, leaving many unsatisfied because it did not declare water a human right.

In the non-binding declaration, the ministers and senior representatives of 140 nations stated that water was "critically important" for human development and restated their commitment to the United Nations Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people lacking water and sanitation.

Venezuela's representative described the document as a "bland soup," adding "we are using a mechanism that, in our point of view, does not lead to a solution to humanity's problems."

Representatives of the 25-nation European Union (EU), Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia, had campaigned for water to be declared a human right, while Mexico campaigned for the declaration to be unchanged from the third forum.

Mexico's representative said that although the document had not satisfied everyone, it was a proof that people could reach a consensus.

On Wednesday, the EU said it had signed a deal offering up to € 500 million (about US$600 million) for Latin American governments which could present appropriate and accountable water projects.

Mexico's mayors and governors said Wednesday they would work hard to ensure Mexico meet the Millennium Development Goals domestically.

"We will do all that is in our power to ensure access to water of quality and in quantity, at a sustainable and just price," Enrique Pena Nieto, governor of the state of Mexico, said.

Also in Wednesday's session, an official from the United Nations' Education Science and Cultural Organization called for cultural change to tackle what technology cannot do by itself.

Earlier in the week, at least 1,000 Mexicans protested against the privatization of water supply, which had been promoted in part by the large commercial Expo that accompanied the Forum.

The participants have agreed to hold the next forum in Istanbul, Turkey in 2009.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2006)