CURRENT EVENTS

Compensation New Basque offices for Franco victims around the world

The Basque Department of Housing and agencies for the same purpose. A Basque Government Office Social Affairs has now processed the • If the person eligible for the has been in operation in dossiers submitted to request allowance is deceased, such Brussels since 1996 for the compensation set aside by the Basque compensation may be paid to person’s purpose of representing Government for direct victims of the spouse, domestic partner or children if Basque interests in the city Franco dictatorship. According to the he or she suffers a disability and is where decisions are made provisions laid down in Decree 280/2002 collecting a non-contributory orphan’s which affect the entire the of 19 November,in order for people to be or disability pension European Union. From the eligible for this allowance, all of the Following a series of amendments to outset it has been an office requirements listed below must be met: the original compensation fund, the characterized by its •Be at least 65 years of age on Basque Government increased the dynamics and the team of November 29th 2002. amount to be shared out to 21 million young people working there. • Have suffered ‘loss of liberty’ for six euros.The Department of Housing and In 2002 and 2003 the months or more during the Spanish Social Affairs has analyzed a total of Basque Government Civil War. 8,680 requests, out of which 2,529 approved the opening of five • Hold legal residence in Euskadi for at fulfilled all of the conditions of the offer. new offices in , least one year prior to November 29th Each beneficiary will collect 7,200 euros Mexico, Chile, Venezuela and 2002. for six months spent deprived of liberty Argentina. • Provide original or certified true copy and 600 euros more for every additional The Basque Government issued by competent authority proving six-month period, up to a maximum of Office in Madrid was set up periods spent deprived of liberty. 9,600 euros. 6,151 applicants were to represent Basque interests • Provide sworn declaration indicating unable to fulfill one of the conditions in the Spanish capital, as well that candidate has not received mentioned above, in most cases a failure as contact representatives of compensation from other government to produce proof of loss of liberty. other European communities and regions, keep abreast of the relations of the central government’s foreign affairs "Puente Colgante" , with regard to matters candidate for UNESCO world heritage site concerning the Basque Autonomous Community, and The transporter bridge linking the help disseminate Basque shores of the Nervión River will be Government policies and presented as a UNESCO World activities. Heritage site candidate. "Puente As for the Chile, Vizcaya," as it is known locally, is the Argentina, Venezuela and world’s first transporter bridge.This Mexico based offices, these piece of civil engineering, symbol of the countries are priority, owing industrial age in Bizkaia and essential to Basque Government channel of communication for the life backing of development of the Greater area, is located projects and the mere between the towns of and number of Basque residents Las Arenas (). It was opened on transporter bridge was declared a there. As put forward in the July 28th 1893 following three years of historical monument by the Basque decrees which establish the construction work led by its designer, Government. creation of these offices, "the Alberto Palacio. Since that time it has The Department of Heritage of the significance and volume of been of great use to Greater Bilbao.It is Basque Department of Culture has such activities calls for the estimated that 650 million people have presented the candidature to the creation of an Office of the used the bridge over its 110-year-long Spanish Ministry of Culture, which will Basque Autonomous lifetime, with a yearly average of six in turn present the proposal to Community for the purpose million pedestrians and 500,000 UNESCO, the organization ultimately of consolidating" the vehicles.Even today,in the twenty-first in charge of deciding whether the bridge cooperation projects and century, it continues to provide the will officially be put on the list of World other activities affecting same service. In July 1984 the Historical Sites. Basque communities abroad.

Issue 63 Year 2004 CURRENT EVENTS 21