Euskal Etxeak” 3

N.¼ 37 Year 1998

■ Rubial gets the highest distinction of Euskadi

■ The reconciliation of Chillida and Oteiza

Eman ta zabal zazu

■ Zorionak SummarySummary LaburpenaLaburpena

Introduction “EUSKAL ETXEAK” 3

N.º 37 Año 1998

ARGITARATZAILE/EDITOR: Report: THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF THE

■ Rubial recibe la 4 más alta distinción GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM IN EUSKADI EUSKO JAURLARITZA-KANPO de Euskadi HARREMANETARAKO IDAZKARITZA NAGUSIA/GENERAL SECRETARY OF

■ Reconciliación de FOREIGN ACTION OF THE BASQUE Chillida y Oteiza Interview: WILLIAM DOUGLASS TALKS GOVERNMENT 8 ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BASQUE IDENTITY (C/ NAVARRA, 2 Eman ta zabal zazu 01006 VITORIA-GASTEIZ ■ Zorionak TELEPHONE: 187900) News from the Euskal ZUZENDARITZA/DIRECTOR: 10 Etxeak: PRESENT AND FUTURE OF THE BASQUE CENTERS. AMERICA OFFERS IÑAKI AGUIRRE THE BASQUES A “TRAINERA”.

KOORDINAKETA ETA IDAZKETA/ COORDINATION AND WRITING: Basque Villages: GERNIKA, BINGEN ZUPIRIA 14 A MEANINGFUL SYMBOL CONCHA DORRONSORO EDURNE DOMINGORENA

ERREDAKZIO LAGUNTZAILEA/ News from Euskadi: WRITING ASSISTANT: 18 THE PRESIDENTS OF CHILE AND SAHARA VISIT EUSKADI. RUBIAL IS AWARDED THE NEREA ANTIA GERNIKA TREE CROSS. ARDANZA IN SLOVENIA. ARGAZKIAK/PHOTOGRAPHS:

MIKEL ARRAZOLA JON BERNARDEZ Culture: Joint exhibition of EUSKAL ETXEAK FILES 24 Sorolla and Zuloaga. Chillida and DEIA FILES Oteiza are reconciled.

DISEINUA, IMPRIMATZAILEA/ DESIGN AND PRINTING: Sports: The athletic turns a 28 hundred years old FLASH COMPOSITION S.L. ALDA. REKALDE N.º 6 48009 - BILBAO LEGAL DEPOSIT: BI-841-96

2 Getting closer every day

It is more than DATORREN UDAZKENEAN This easy communi- obvious that the cation provided by world of communi- BIBLIOTEKA the new technologies cations has expe- makes it possible to rienced during the Eusko Legebiltzarrak oraintsu have a more fre- last few years dra- jarri berri du indarrean Internet-eko quent and deep rela- matic changes, web orrialdea. Honela, euskal hiri- tion with relatives changes that can be tar guztiek zuzen-zuzenean eta ber- and friends living in described as real re- tatik bertara legebiltzarrean ezta- distant countries. But volutions. The pro- baidatzen eta erabakitzen diren le- moreover, it enables cess of constant glo- ge eta egitasmoen berri jakin ahal the users of the balization is chan- izango dute. systems to reach all kinds of information ging the perception Eskaintza honekin Eusko Lege- independently of the of distances. The fu- biltzarrak bi helburu bete nahi lituz- place they live in. ture that awaits us ke. Batetik, euskal herritar guztiei The Basque Parlia- will have little in zerbitzu aukerakoa luzatu, Euskadi- ment has just opened common with that of ko ikerketa-zentru, komunikabide a web page in Inter- our parents. We are eta gizarte-elkarte guztiek aldez au- net, where Basque all getting increa- rretiko informazioa eskuratzerik citizens can find in- singly closer to each izan dezaten, ekimenen berri izan formation about all other. eta azter-lanean daudenak jakin. the political, legal There was a Bestetik, gardentasunaren froga ar- and administrative time, not so very gi eta garbia eman, hiritar guztiek informazio zuzena izan dezaten eta eu- aspects correspon- long ago, when lea- ren ordezkari politikoek osotzen duten Eusko Legebiltzar hau ahalik eta era- ding to the parlia- ving one’s country kunderik hurbiltzat eta sinesgarritzat jo dezaten. mentary work. They meant not only chan- Zer esanik ez informazio hau guztia talde, elkarte eta erakunde guztien can also ask for pre- ging habits, customs eskutan jarriko dela, unibertsitate, alderdi politiko, sindikatu, komunikabide, cise information, and ways of living, hiritar-elkarte, enpresa eta gainerako antolamenduen eskutan alegia. Eta, make suggestions, but also embarking criticize the work of on the adventure of ez Euskal Herri mailan bakarrik, baita mundu osoan zehar ere, han-hemen- ka sakabanaturik bizi diren euskaldun guztiek ere hartaz baliatzerik izan the deputies, ask the unknown, and them questions, fo- dezaten. parting completely llow closely their ac- Oraingoz, Internet-ez ikustatu ahal izango den informazioa Legebiltza- with the land of the tivities and use the ancestors. Moreover, rraren jestio politikoari dagozkion gaiekikoa bakarrik izango da baina, da- internal database of those who were born torren udazkenetik aurrera, bertako liburutegiko altxor bibliografiko guztia the Parliament. This far from their pa- ere aukeran jarriko da, erabateko ezagupen eta erabilpen publikoa izan de- way, thanks to the ■ rents’ countries ten- zan. new technologies, ded to view this dis- the Basque demo- tant motherland cratic institutions will through rose-tinted be even closer, if possible, to their citizens, and the Basques spectacles. Distance only increased and fed this ideal image. I spread all over the world will share the same possibilities, in the was exiled when still in my teens, and I spent twenty years of my same conditions, as the Basques living in the Basque Country. life in Venezuela and Canada, so I have experienced the effects I wanted to take advantage of the chance given to me by of lack of communication and distance. this magazine “Euskal Etxeak”, to speak to the Basques living all But there have been many changes during the last few over the world, and tell them about these new ways of access to years, and things will keep changing in the future. Telephone our institution. However, these technological innovations cannot and international flights followed mail and steamboats, and replace the direct contact and the human relations that this now, in the threshold of the third millenium, the possibilities of Chamber holds with the citizens. I wish to remind you that the telematic communication, which joins telephone, television and Parliament is always open to every community of the Diaspora, computers, seem to have no limits at all. and that everybody can visit it alone or in group. You will al- Nowadays increasingly popular systems such as communi- ways be welcome here. Ongi etorri. cation via internet, allow us to cut distances down to amazingly low limits, and for prices which were unthinkable only a few years ago. The so-called computing “navigation” offers such Joseba Andoni Leizaola Azpiazu easy coast to coast communication that very soon it is going to President of the Basque Parliament be unforgivable for families living in different continents not to establish the required devices to enable a continuous and stable Internet: http//parlamento.euskadi.net communication. E-mail: [email protected]

3 REPORT ERREPORTAIA

THE MUSEUM HAS BECOME A REAL ENGINE OF BASQUE TOURISM THE GUGGENHEIM EFFECT

he old and catching slogan “Eus- come and talk about it”, for this al- kadi, come and talk about us”, ready widely known museum is attrac- T which has been so useful for the ting lots of visitors to Euskadi. This phe- promotion of tourism in Euskadi, is nomenon is being referred to as the about to become “Guggenheim Bilbao, Guggenheim effect.

Concha Dorronsoro changes in the Bilbao hotel business high standing executives or simply sector and some restaurant owners wealthy art amateurs. More than three have even decided to open their esta- thousand personalities from the econo- The Basque gallery has dwarfed blishments on Sundays to make the mic, social, political and cultural fields even the most optimistic forecasts. In most of the flow of tourists. from all over the world have visited the only four months more than 500,000 Moreover, since the museum ope- Basque gallery. people have visited it, more than was ned its doors last year on October 19th, At the same time, the Guggenheim expected for the whole year, and there it is not unusual to see planes from Ger- museum is hosting great social events. are no signs of slackening in this ten- many, Switzerland, Italy, New York or The magnificent central atrium 55 meters dency. Charter and private flights to the Miami landing in Sondika. Many fa- high, the meeting place of the museum, capital of Bizkaia have increased dra- mous passengers came in some of tho- has been chosen by many great com- matically, Bilbao is starting to be consi- se airplanes: Hollywood superstars mercial trade marks for the world pre- dered as one of the main European cul- such as Brad Pitt and Jonathan Pryce sentation of their products, and there are tural capitals, and the hotels and res- (Sean Connery was expected before constant requests from photographers taurants of the city have no vacancies. Easter), and directors such as Jean and designers who want to do or show The museum has also promoted deep Jacques Annaud and Oliver Stone, their works in Gehry’s building.

4 REPORT ERREPORTAIA

The museum also offers the additio- nal gastronomical attraction (something unavoidable when talking about the Basque Country), for its restaurant is presided by one of the most prestigious and innovative cooks of the moment, Martín Berasategi. This young man offers the visitors a menu that shows the extent of the importance given to coo- king by Basque people. The restaurant is very successful both among the citizens of Bilbao and the tourists, and it is difficult to find a table in it without making a reservation months before.

THE BASQUE TOURISM LIGHTHOUSE

The attraction of the Guggenheim museum has proved so strong that is has become the symbol of Euskadi. Photographs of the building are used as baits in every campaign to attract visitors to the Basque Country. As the Basque Tourism Consultant –Rosa Diez– said, it has become the lighthouse of Basque tourism. This expression is wholly justified. According to the latest data about last year, the number of foreign tourists has considerably increased (35% that becomes 57% in the case of Bilbao) in relation to the preceding years. The number of visitors coming from the United States and Canada increased by 35%; those coming from France increased by 14.4%, and the Germans by 8%. Moreover, the type of tourist visiting Euskadi is also changing, the so-called cultural tourism, wealthy and with free time, is increasing, as op- posed to the economic tourism (people who come to attend conferences, international trade exhibitions, financial meetings, etc), who was more frequent until the moment, especially in Bilbao. These data have not escaped the notice of the great tourist operators and travel agencies who include a visit to the famous museum in all their tourist offers. The institutional representatives of the tourist area have also come to see the Guggenheim museum as the best bait to attract visitors not only to Bilbao, but also to other regions of Euskadi. For instance the Centro de Atracción y Turismo of San Sebastián has organized a campaign with the slogan “Some days living like Donostia- The Guggenheim Museum has changed the appearance of the city.

5 REPORT ERREPORTAIA

rras”, that includes not only reductions in hotels, restaurants and shops, but al- • Guggenheim museoaren eraginez, Bilbo Europako kultur so a guided visit to the Bilbao museum. hiri garrantzitsuenetariko bat bihurtu da. Hau dela eta, The great hotel chains are also aware milaka atzerritar dira Euskadira datozenak Museoa of the phenomenon, and a short while ikustera eta bide batez, Euskadi ezagutzera. ago we have been informed that the Hyatt chain from Chicago, which is one of the most powerful in the whole world is thinking of building a luxurious hotel in a site near the museum. • Bilboko turismo eta ostalaritza egiturak aldatzen ari dira Museoak eragindako beharrei erantzuna emateko. THE BIGGEST EXHIBITION OF CHINESE ART

The managers of the gallery, aware of the huge expectation created by • Sektore ekonomiko berria sortu da Museoaren inguruan the Guggenheim Museum –or should we say the Guggenheim phenomenon?– are preparing for next July the This collection has only been shown with the dedication of the Guggenheim biggest exhibition of Chinese art of the in the New York Guggenheim Museum. Foundation to contemporary art. The history, which is at the same time the So this will be a unique opportunity to organizers intend to offer a global vi- most ambitious and scholarly that the know the evolution of Chinese art and sion of culture based on a non-western Guggenheim Foundation has ever un- history. The latest archeological disco- cultural collection. dertaken. veries will also be present in the exhibi- Apart from the Chinese exhibition, The exhibition China 5 thousand tion, for instance, there will be one of the museum will offer four temporary years will show objects ranging from the the 8000 terracotta warriors discove- exhibitions, one of them that of the Do- third millenium before Christ to the pre- red in Xian in 1977 in the tomb of the nostiarran sculptress Cristina Iglesias. sent, hundreds of objects made of jade, first Chinese emperor. There will also be We will also have the opportunity to en- bronze, fabric, calligraphy, enamel recent works including some correspon- joy the retrospective dedicated to Raus- work, wood work, porcelain, pottery, lac- ding to the socialist realism stage, and chenberg, which has already been quers, Buddhist sculptures and paintings. some reflecting the most modern trends shown in New York and Cologne, and None of these pieces had ever left China imported from the West. is expected to be another great interna- and many of them had never even been This exhibition, which will last from tional artistic event that will take place exhibited in that country. July to November, somehow breaks at the end of the year. ■

6 LETTERS TO THE DIRECTOR ZUEN GUTUNAK

Contributions should be made this way: The gauze Virgin Contributions for the Ship’s boy: $ 100. Will get a certificate (Virgen de la Gasa) Ameriketatik with his or her name, in memory of the event. Sailor: $ 250. Will get a certificate and Bestelako alaitasunagaz jasoten ditut Kaixo, lagunak: his or her name will be engraved on the zuek bialduriko berriak. Biotzetiko ezkerrak I have heard that some American zeuentzat. “trainera” Basques are planning to give a “trainera” to Although the news are from the 1st Officer: $ 500. Will get a certificate our dear Euskadi. I think that is an excellent Autonomous Community, I would like to and two names chosen by him will be know more, even if very briefly, about all of idea, and I would like to contribute to this gift. Could you possibly tell me where I have engraved on the “trainera”. Euskadi. You will see what is best. Captain: $ 1000 (For associations and Eskerrik asko. Besarkadarik estutsuena to make my contribution? ■ clubs). Will get an engraved tablet of the zeuentzat Venezuelako euskaldun bat “trainera” mentioning their participation. SOMETHING FUNNY: The name will be engraved in the Is a mountain in Colombia that is made “trainera”. of salt. After centuries of digging a Admiral: $ 5000. Will get a certificate, cathedral has been built in it. The virgin The answer from Euskal a tablet and a model of the “trainera”. The presiding the huge church is called the Etxeak name will be engraved on the “trainera”. Gauze (gasa) Virgin, that is gatza, which Every contribution to this project will be ■ means salt in Euskera. As you can see, this issue of Euskal mentioned during the inauguration Bollegitar’tar Joseba Mirena ceremony. All donations will be deductible. Quito (Peru) Etxeak provides all the necessary information about this project. Anyway, all The donations by check should be those wishing to contribute can address the addressed to the Atlantic Challenge Project Coordinator, Kim Vicente. Foundation, Trainera Project, indicating Ongi Etorriak TF: (207) 353-6259 clearly the name and surname, telephone Fax: (207) 353-7984 number and address of the donators. The Euskal Etxeak team wishes to The Atlantic Challenge Foundation MasterCard and Visa credit cards will also welcome from these lines all the Basque Box 236, Rockland ME 04841-0236 be accepted. ■ priests and nuns spread all over the world, that will from now on be on the long list of subscriptors of our magazine. In this section we would like to encourage all Euskal Etxeak readers We hope you will find our articles to collaborate sending letters about anything that may be of interest to interesting, and that they will contribute to bring your motherland closer to the you, or letting us know your suggestions about the magazine. places where you are developing your If you are interested in sending us letters, please remember that they apostolic mission. At the same time we should not exceed 30 typed lines, and that they should be faxed to nº look forward to receiving your collaboration on any subject that you 34-45-1878832 in Vitoria. wish to share with us. ■ We are looking forward to your collaboration. ✄

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7 INTERVIEW ELKARRIZKETA

HE DIRECTS THE BASQUE STUDIES CENTER IN RENO UNIVERSITY Douglass: “The Basque Centers will have to attract the young generations if they want to survive”

rofessor William Douglass created in 1967 in Reno University, Nevada, the most important Basque Studies Center in the world. For over 31 years he has studied the P Basque communities of the world. Douglass has no Basque ancestors and his interest in the subject has been accidental. In Nevada, where he was born, there are many Basques and he met some of them at school. But at the time the identity was not exposed in public. Reading Caro Baroja he became interested in a people that had always kept a distance from the rest of the world, and that spoke a unique and age-old language. He lived in Euskadi from ’63 to ’65 and since then his interest on the Basques has kept increasing.

Edurne Domingorena tions. There has not been a migratory policy. Last century, for example, people in the Basque Country feared that Your interest in Basque matters the country would become deserted, has infected the rest of the academi- they were also concerned about the cians. Would the continuity of the Bas- morality surrounding the emigrants, que Studies Center be in danger wit- about the exploitation of the hout you? youngsters, about the recruiters that vi- The studies are completely institu- sited the villages, etc. But anyway the tionalized. I have held the position for Diaspora was something important. 31 years and I am about to retire, but The influence of the Diaspora in the de- the program has a budget in the univer- velopment of the Basque Country has sity. Our collection of books on Basque not been thoroughly studied yet, it is matters is one of the most important in being studied now. A huge capital was the world. Academicians from all over brought here from the diasporas, as the world come every year to the Cen- well as people and ideas. ter. The program is not in danger at all. Do all peoples create communities What has been the role of the Bas- abroad? que communities and in what way ha- Yes, to a certain extent. But the na- ve they affected Basque society? ture of the flow of emigrants has There is not only one Basque Dias- something to do with it. It was more dif- you ask: are the Catholics good? Well, pora, but many. We have to distinguish ficult to create Basque associations in some of them are. The same happens between countries and destinations on the United States than it was in Argen- with every Diaspora. In the United one hand, and periods on the other. tina because very few intellectuals and States there are between 50 thousand This is why the study of the Diaspora ta- professionals came to this country. The- and 75 thousand Basques, more or kes a certain time, because there is so re were few educated people with the less. In a certain sense Basques are mo- much to study. conscience of being Basque, who could re organized than others. There are The Diaspora was not born as an write and read in Euskera, and so crea- many more Irish than Basques, but the extension of the Basque Country, it was te a Basque atmosphere. number of Basques that declare they born with the individual decisions of But, do you believe that the wish are Basque is similar to that of the Irish. thousands of people. Some of them we- of keeping their own identity is espe- For some time they did not express re political refugees, and others were cially strong among the Basques? their identity, it was not made public, looking for better economical condi- Among some Basques. It is like if and therefore, it was not very well un-

8 INTERVIEW ELKARRIZKETA

derstood. Now many things have been economic and transport possibilities, published in English about the Basques, •«Euskal Etxeek gazteak the diasporas can become much closer and being Basque is something to be erakarri beharko dituzte to each other and to Euskadi. We have proud of, and it is something special, desagertu ez daitezen, the means to strengthen those ties. for it is a minority. It is a positive distinc- horretarako gaur eguneko What do you expect of the Con- tion. gress that is going to be celebrated in But precisely what is the image of teknikak aintzakotzat Reno? the Basques? hartuz». Internationally speaking, I think we There was a time when they were are going through a stage of great ex- not liked. That was when the Basques •«Gazte batek agian plorations. Nobody knows where we were wandering bums. There were nahiago izango du are headed to, and the Congress must fights, the ranchers were violent against include these matters. For instance, them. From 1890 to 1920 they were Interneten bidez whether the Basque Centers will last. deprecated in the press and in the euskaldunekin I am going to analyze the creation whole American West. They were com- harremanetan jarri of the new Diaspora. That is, the effort pared to the Chinese and to their disad- Euskal Etxean zaharrekin the Basque Government has made in vantage. They were accused of spen- order to have for the first time a policy ding years saving money and then afaldu baino» for the Basque communities in favor of going back to their land without inves- Euskadi. Cultural, political and econo- ting in the country. However now they •«Euskal nortasuna mical links with the diasporas are being are admired. There are companies that indibidualki eratuko den officially created. This is the first time in give a job to any Basque who requests prozesu bat izango da history that these links are being institu- it just because he is Basque, for they are aurrerantzean» tionalized, for now the means to do so seen as loyal, hardworking and inde- exist. This is a novelty in the experience pendent. There are all kinds of Basques, of the diasporas, and I will talk about but this is how the community is seen. And what will the role of the Bas- the successes and the failures of this ex- At the doors of the 21st century que communities be in this context? perience. and with the cultural globalization, I don’t know. At present there are Are you optimistic about the survi- will it still be possible to talk about a more Basque Centers than ever, but will val of the Basque communities, of the Basque identity? they last? I think maybe they will, may- Basque identity? That is one of the questions we dis- be not. What they have to understand I am optimistic in the sense that if cuss in the Congress. I can argue in favor is that they have to find the way of there are enough people in the world and against. There will no doubt be an attracting the younger generations. This really interested in it, it will survive. And evolution towards new identities, new will be the great challenge facing all the if not, I am also optimistic. For if there ways of forming them, consuming them Basque Centers. is no interest, why keep it? It makes no and projecting them. I wonder if in the One of the most positive aspects is sense. So I believe there are no reasons new millenium a boy won’t rather face the fact that with the present electronic, to be pessimistic. ■ the screen of his computer, and study Euskera via Internet from his own room, take a virtual trip to Euskadi, see the new THE UNIVERSITY OF RENO WILL STUDY BASQUE IDENTITY exhibition of the Bilbao Guggenheim, IN THE THRESHOLD OF THE NEW MILLENIUM keep horizontal contacts with other people sharing the same interests in Reno, An International Congress of Basque communities in the new Buenos Aires, Sidney, Manila, Brussels, Basque Studies will be celebrated in millenium. and also in Bilbao. There is the possibility Reno (Nevada, USA) on 6th, 7th, 8th William Douglass, the director of now of creating a horizontal net among the Basques of the whole world, based and 9th July, during the Basque Feast the Basque Studies Program, has on particular decisions of individuals of the American West. The Congress coordinated this Congress. At the who are not only consuming the Basque has been organized by the Basque beginning the main subject was going thing in their own way, but also forming Studies Program of the University of to be the phenomenon of Basque their own identity in personal terms. This Nevada, with the help of the Basque emigration and the future of the same boy may rather keep these contacts Government. Basque communities in different than dine with 60-year-old shepherds Prestigious professors from all American countries, but finally other belonging to another generation and over the world will take part in the more global concepts such as identity, with a different mentality. The new media Congress. They will analyze the emigration, globalization and their enable each of us to create our own eth- challenges facing Basque society and consequences have been included. ■ nic world.

9 BASQUE CENTERS EUSKAL ETXEAK THE FOUR-YEAR PLAN ENTERS

ITS SECOND HALF Iñaki Agirre

The Basque Government increased the generic grants to the Euskal Etxeak by 30%. These aids do not cover all the expenses generated by the activities organized abroad, but at least they help promote and encourage the most important ones. The computerization of the Euskal Etxeak and the creation of a telematic net have been a great success that has made it possible among other things, to reinforce the links between the Government and its direct speakers, and among the Euskal Etxeak themsel- ves. Nowadays the Government in Vito- ria is elaborating an ambitious plan that will make it possible for the Euskal Etxeak to have access to loans on lan- ded property in Euskadi. The loans will The Basque Communities Advisory Council during a meeting that took place in Vitoria. be used for the renewal of their infras- tructures or for the purchase of head- quarters. This project, which will pro- Now that the four-year plan has with Euskadi, and the participation of bably be passed in September, will entered its second half, it is time to take the younger generations in the life and grant the selected centers access to stock and examine the progress achie- activities of the Euskal Etxeak. loans at an interest rate of 4.75% paya- ved with the launching of this ambitious ble in 10 years maximum and for a to- plan passed in the World Congress of tal value of 500 million pesetas for all Basque Communities celebrated in Vi- EUSKAL ETXEAK the selected Euskal Etxeak. toria-Gasteiz in 1995. But this reflection should not stick to When the World Congress was ce- a simple examination of the achieve- lebrated, a year and a half after the IDENTITY, BASQUE CULTURE AND ments, it should also encourage people Law of Relations with Basque Commu- EUSKERA to make suggestions about what the nities and Centers Abroad was passed, next four-year plan (1999-2003) there were 129 Euskal Etxeak spread Lehendakaritza, the Culture De- should be like. over 16 countries in the planet. Howe- partement and the Adult Alphabetiza- However, before we tackle this se- ver at that moment only 21 of them, that tion Institute- HABE, have spared no cond stage and start designing new ho- is 16.2%, were officially acknowledged effort to develop and complete the tea- rizons for the third millenium, let us go by the Government Council and appea- ching of Euskera to all those who are back a few years and remember the red in the Basque Centers Register. No- interested in learning it. At present main axes of the plan of the Basque wadays most of the Euskal Etxeak, 105 there are Euskera courses for children Government regarding the Euskal of the 138 existing at present (76%) and adults in most of the Euskal Etxeak. There were four action axes have taken the trouble. On the other Etxeak, and the results are very promi- passed in that Congress: the mainte- hand, the dynamism of the Basques li- sing. In Argentina, there is an ambi- nance of the structure and infrastructu- ving abroad as well as their wish to tious project, Argentinan Euskaraz, re of the Basque Centers; the promotion keep theirs links with their motherland which started in 1990 and will last un- of Basque identity, its culture and lan- is all too clear, as the creation of 9 new til 2000, for the training of Euskera guage; the installment of efficient com- Euskal Etxeak in the two last years teachers, that has required a lot of munication and information channels proves. efforts and determination.

10 There are regular shipments of di- Basque communities abroad do not re- in reaction to this concern. The pro- dactic material, books and videos ceive the signal in similar conditions. gram brings 60 youngsters from Ame- about culture, literature or history of In Mexico, Florida, Colombia and Pe- rica to Euskadi in each edition. The Euskadi and other matters that can be ru the signal is received generally and main goal of this program is to give interesting for the Basque Communities on a daily basis; Argentina, a country them the opportunity to know the pre- abroad. with many cables, receives the signal sent Euskadi, with its achievements and The possibility of producing Basque but only broadcasts it to few places of also with its problems. And they will folk music CDs (compact disks) so that its territory (Necochea, Tandil and a transmit the image of the real Euskadi the dantzari groups can have a compi- small part of Buenos Aires). The dis- when they get back to their countries; lation of our most popular “danceable” cussions and negotiations with the ca- an image that will probably be very dif- traditional songs, and also learn to play ble operators have been intense, and ferent from the one they have received txistu, is being studied at present. new possibilities are springing for the from their parents and grandparents. near future, especially in Uruguay and These young people will have to ta- Chile, but there are still some difficul- ke control of the Euskal Etxeak a little by COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION ties to overcome. In the United States a little, they will give them new sap and the access to the market is still compli- ideas, get in charge of the everyday Euskal Irrati Telebista-EITB announ- cated, and for the moment only one problems and, to sum up, ensure that ced during the World Congress that particular agreement has been rea- the movement lasts and improves in the they were going to launch an interna- ched in Boise (Idaho), and negotia- next few years. tional channel so that the Basques living tions are being held with several pu- But this developments will not be abroad could receive news and pro- blic channels of other states in order to possible without the involvement of all grams from Euskadi, and therefore ha- broadcast, if only partially, the Basque those who have interests in the matter. ve a direct contact with our daily reality. programs. Moreover, the Basques li- Until the present more than 80% of the This announcement deeply interested ving in Europe will have the same pos- actions foreseen in the Four-Year Plan the attendants. sibilities through digital television. have taken place, but all this will be After the suitable investigations, useless without a process of conti- ETB decided to join the televisions of nuing improvement, and constant re- Galicia and Catalunya, whose presen- THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS flection about the axes of our future ce abroad is really important, in order policies. to create an international channel via The most important chapter of the It is our responsibility, the responsi- satellite, aimed at first to the Latin conclusions of the World Congress bility of each one of us, to give form American public, and shortly after to dealt with the youngsters and the need and contents to these new possibilities, North America and Europe. After to make the new generations take part so as not to lose the fruits of a task that overcoming several problems and main the life and activity of the Basque was undertaken more than a hundred terial difficulties with our partners from Centers. This is in fact the question that and twenty years ago. From this plat- Galicia, who have delayed conside- is going to determine essentially the fu- form I encourage everybody to form re- rably the implantation of the ETB inter- ture of the Euskal Etxeak and, therefore, flection groups in the different countries national channel, this project, unbelie- the continuity of the task our ancestors where there are Basque communities, vable only a few years ago, and of a undertook with so many efforts. and to start preparing and suggesting great commercial complexity, has be- The GAZTEMUNDU program, new projects and ideas for the 1999 come at present a reality. However, the which started in 1996, was organized Congress. ■

11 BASQUEXXXXXXXXXXXXX CENTERS XXXXXXXXEUSKAL ETXEAK

A REPLICA OF AN 18TH CENTURY FISHING TRAINERA WILL REACH EUSKADI THIS SUMMER AMERIKETATIK, THE GIFT FROM THE BASQUES IN AMERICA TO THEIR MOTHERLAND

VIII. mendean euskaldunek arrantza Ameriketako Hego eta Ifarraldean bizi diren egiteko erabiltzen zuten untzi baten euskaldunek ordainduko dute euskal erakun- X itxura izango duen trainera bat opari- deen laguntzaz. “Ameriketatik” izeneko un- tuko diote Ameriketan bizi diren euskaldunek tzia Uztailan irtengo da Maine hiritik eta Eus- Euskal Herriari. Ideia Estatu Batuetan bizi di- kadiko portu guztietatik igaroko da, Muski- ren bi euskaldunei bururatu zitzaien, baina zetik Baionaruntz.

all kinds of weather conditions. The main feature of this boat, quick and easy to handle, is her steering mast that enables her to steer from bow to stern, and from starboard to port. Her performance is very different from that of the present traineras, which are built for sporting competitions, for it was a boat used for the fishing of anchovies and sardines with nets, during a time when it was not necessary to lea- ve the coast in order to find the shoals. With this trainera it was possible to fish even inside the bays. Anchovies were seen from the cliffs. In Hondarribia, for instance, people used to shout gorria!, for the sun shining on the anchovies formed red stains that guided the arran- A “trainera” (traditional Basque The Atlantic Challenge –a presti- tzales toward the shoals. boat), a replica of those used in 18th gious school-shipyard in Maine– used century by Basque arrantzales for the some blueprints of a boat built in mid capture of anchovies and sardines: this 18th century in the Mutiozabal ship- FROM MAINE TO BILBAO is the tribute the American Basques yard in Orio, as well as the research want to offer to Euskal Herria. Two Bas- done by Agote himself, as a guide for The Ameriketatik is bound to arrive ques living in the United States had the the building of this replica of a trainera. in Bilbao in July, and she will start from idea last spring. Now the dream has The works started in November, and we there visiting all the Basque ports. All become a reality and the boat Amerike- will be able to see again this boat that oarsmen wishing to take part in the trip tatik is expected to be in Euskadi in July, was the queen of the Cantabrian Sea will have the chance to do so. The trip coming from Maine in order to visit all from the French Landes to the border will be a gift from the American Bas- the Basque ports, from Muzkiz to Baio- with Galicia, from the second half of ques to the land of their ancestors. But na. the 18th century until it disappeared before coming to Euskadi the boat will Basques from the north and south 150 years after with the coming of the be received in Manhattan Port, where of the American continent are giving steamboats. she will play the leading role in an money for the project, which also has event including sailing around the Sta- the support of Basque institutions. Xa- OAK, OAR AND SAIL tue of Liberty. The trainera will also be bier Agote, shipbuilder and expert on present in the Universal Exhibition Lis- traditional Basque ships, and Ramón The Ameriketatik trainera is made of bon’98. Cengotitabengoa, president of the Bas- oak, she weighs about 700 kilos, and Moreover, a cultural association ca- que Studies Society in America, who she is 11 and a half meters in lled Alboala has been created in order found the suitable financing for the pro- length and nearly 2 meters in breadth. to organize the future access to this ject, have spared no effort to make it She is propelled by oars and has two boat and to the world of traditional possible. sails. It is a very sturdy boat that endures ships in general. ■

12 BASQUEXXXXXXXXXXXXX CENTERS XXXXXXXXEUSKAL ETXEAK Mexico celebrated the canonization of saint ignatius Loyola

of this description, in a moment when society did not acknowledge this basic right. The Colegio de las Vizcai- nas is located in very center of Mexico D.F., in an impres- sive building of baroque style. At present it is still ma- naged by a foundation led A BASQUE IN SPACE by Basque descendants. This foundation decided long Leopold Eyharts, born in Biarritz ago to extend its educational has become the first Basque to travel task to the whole Mexican to space. Last January 29 the society, regardless of their spacecraft that took him and two origins. The school has now other Russian cosmonauts to the Mir students of both sexes and orbital station was launched from has 1.050 pupils receiving Baikonour in Kazayistan. He stayed elementary and secondary for three weeks in Mir station, where education. he took among a few other things his The Culture Consultant of the Basque Government The celebrations started at chistera (Basque pelota racquet) as a planted a sprout of the Gernika Tree in the college of the noon with a mass celebrated souvenir from home. Vizcainas in Mexico. at the school chapel. Mem- The Basque cosmonaut is bers of the foundation, tea- lieutenant colonel of the French Air The Culture Consultant, M. Carmen chers of the school, representatives from Forces, trial pilot and a cosmonaut Garmendia, chaired last March 12 the the Mexican-Basque Development Insti- of the National Center of Space celebrations that took place in the Cole- tute and from the Basque Center atten- Studies. He is also a Knight of the gio de la Paz (Vizcainas) in Mexico, in ded the mass, where 18th century un- National Order of Merit, and he has memory of the canonization of Saint Ig- published songs that where found in the been awarded the Overseas and natius Loyola (March 12 1622), who is school files, were sung. At the end of the National Defense medals. In 1995 the patron saint of this foundation. Gar- mass the group Fenix Americana, En- he was sent to the City of the Stars mendia flew to Mexico in response to semble vocal e instrumental de investi- for training –that is a military base an invitation issued to her by José M. gación musical novohispana, perfor- located 40 kilometers from Moscow Basagoiti, President of the School Foun- med the old San Ignacio march, also where the Russian cosmonauts have dation. dating from 18th century. their training center. Eyharts took The Basque emigrants in Mexico After the mass the Consultant plan- advantage of this opportunity and created this school in 18th century for now at the age of 40, the dream that their daughters’ education. Because it ted a small sprout of the Gernika Tree in has haunted him since he saw at the was a ladies school it was popularly one of the school courts. Basagoiti and age of 12 the Americans that walked known as “Las Vizcainas”, and its true Artolozaga, who joined the school for the first time on the Moon, has name, Colegio de San Ignacio de Loyo- foundation the same day, accompanied come true. ■ la, was almost forgotten. We can’t help the Consultant. This new sprout of the but admire the advanced ideas of those tree of Basque freedom was planted Mexican-Basques who promoted at the while a txistulari played the “Gernikako beginning of the 18th century a school Arbola”. ■

13 BASQUEXXXXXXXXXXXXX VILLAGES XXXXXXXXEUSKAL HERRIAK ON THE WAY TO GERNIKA

urreko Euskal Etxeetan euskal hi- A riburuak ezagutu ditugu. Orain, berriz, pixkanaka pixkanaka he- rrietara hurbilduko gara. Asko dira Euskal Herrian ospetsuak diren herriak eta arrazoiak ere ugariak dira. Baina, bada bat guztien gainetik nabaritzen dena, Gernika hain zuzen ere. Historikoki euskaldu- nentzat garrantzitsua iza- teaz gain, gaur egun ba- kea eta askatasunaren sinbolo bihurtu da. Horre- xegatik, herriei eskainita- ko lehen kapitulu hau be- rarentzat izango da.

ow that we have described the Bas- Nque capitals, we are starting a new chapter about Basque villages. And we start with one of the greatest symbols of Euskadi: Ger- nika.

Koldo San Sebastián

My grandfather took me to Ger- nika when I was twelve. We visited the Casa de Juntas, and when we were near the Tree he cut my racket short (too much culture for a young of the Gernikako Arbola sung by the dings with different eyes. He used to boy), as only the old Basque captains orfeón in the Plaza de los Fueros, in Le- say that the Viking presence had been can: Egon ixilik! (Be quiet!). One day, I keitio. So for many years Gernika was very intense there. Travelling to Gernika was also with my grandfather, I saw in a kind of sanctuary, distant, a place to is always a great pleasure. a restaurant that does not exist any mo- change of bus between Lekeitio and Bil- According to Lope García de Sala- re, a picture of a mendigoizale (moun- bao. What a mistake! My mentor, Jon zar, a daughter of the king of Scotland taineer) respectfully facing the Tree. Bilbao, born in Cayey de Puerto Rico, came to Mundaka. There she conceived That image deeply impressed me. It im- whose family came from Mundaka, and gave birth to a son. Mother and pressed me in the same way as when showed me the magic and taught me to son lived then in Altamira de Busturia. the men bared their heads to the sound look at the Saint Town and its surroun- When the young man is 22, he is cho-

14 BASQUEXXXXXXXXXXXXX VILLAGES XXXXXXXXEUSKAL HERRIAK

sen by the Bizkaians as captain of their troops to fight against the son of the king of León, who had invaded their territory. He defeated the foreigners in the battle of Arrigorriaga, and was made Lord of Bizkaia by his men who called him “Jaun Zuria” (White Gentle- man), because of his fair hair, which was nearly white, and his rosy comple- xion, uncommon among the Basques. But this is only one of the many versions about the origin of the Domain of Biz- kaia. Some people believe that Jaun Zu- ria was really a Viking who had come to our coasts around the 9th century. The fierce northern sailors would have sailed through the Mundaka River into Gernika. Their heritage, a brisk and supple type of boat. And something el- se. According to Jon Bilbao the great number of people with fair hair and The Casa de Juntas is not only a historical heritage, but it has a great symbolic value for light eyes in this part of the country is all Basques. due, without any doubt, to the Viking inheritance. Professor Antón Erkoreka has published a book following the tra- of San Martin church and in the funeral ces left by the Scandinavian men in our stele of Trinity hermitage. A branch of history: Baiona, Pamplona and mostly the Roman road starting at Balmaseda Mundaka River open up practically any Vikingoen aztarnak went as far as Bermeo. hypothesis. • The Romans also exploited the red Jon Juaristi reminds us that certain ugariak dira Gernikan marble quarry in Ereño. With the disin- writings and legends about Busturia tegration of the Roman Empire Euskale- could well refer to exiled Saxons of the rria entered a dark period with no writ- Wessex and West Anglia dynasties that had been overthrown by the Vikings, and not to Scandinavian sailors. In any case, those visitors with yellow hair and fierce gestures entered Bizkaia borde- ring a very similar coast to the one they had left behind: the Ogoño bulk, Izaro. And they entered then a calm river, further away from Mundaka, that held a certain likeness, at least in the right margin, to a Norwegian fiord. Anyway, when the Vikings came, there were already Basques here. The presence of man in that area goes back to the Low Paleolithic. Many prehistoric traces have been found in the region. In 1916 some cave paintings were found in Santimamiñe, in Kortezubi, which were painted by men of the magdalenic culture. Traces of the Solutrense were found in 1959 in Atxeta (Forua). The Roman presence in the region of Urdai- bai opens the first page of the story. There are votive inscriptions in the altar The Jai Alai pelota court is the witness of important pelota matches.

15 Many people come every Monday to the fair. ten news that lasted 500 years. The Vi- Since then every year in the morning of kings came during that period. •Astean behin egiten den July 22, Saint Mary Magdalene’s day, But what is this land so full of his- azokak zentzu berezia du after a mass in Santa Eugenia church, tory like? Urdaibai is framed by Cape Gernikarrentzat a colorful flotilla sails to Izaro. The boat Matxitxako (Bermeo) and Arbolitz Point that carries the authorities stops next to (Ibarranguelua). Cape Matxitxako is the isle. The silence is complete. In a the main geographic accident in the Basques learned from the Norman the moment the ikurriña presides the place. Basque coast, it is a natural spur that art of fishing whales”. On the other The racket is impossible to describe. accidentally protects the entrance of the hand the boats painted in the 18th cen- Songs, scarves, shouts, sirens. Some estuary. The limit of Urdaibai region tury stamps of the fishing ports are minutes later, after collecting the certifi- heads upward from there through Bur- identical to some Viking boats rescued cate, the major of Bermeo throws a tile goa mountain into Bermeo, continues from the Roskilde Fiord. The heritage is into the sea, symbolizing that Izaro be- through Garbola and Truende moun- even clearer in some of the words used longs this year again to Bermeo. Then tains until it reaches Sollube, in the in- for sailing techniques. Gwyn Jones, they all go to Elantxobe, where the ma- tersection of Bermeo, Arrieta and Bus- author of classical works on the Vi- jor is waiting to exchange the stick of turia. Then it winds through Kurtzegane kings, includes the Basque coasts in the command with the major of Bermeo. and Sestretxa mountains into the lands usual routes of the northern men. This will be the leader until he leaves of Errigoiti in Arriaga mountain. The The Bermeo fishermen are some of the place. Then everybody goes to border then goes eastward and forms the best in the world. They have chased Mundaka to watch the dance of the au- an arch through Maiaga mountain, to the fish across the seven seas and it is rresku of honor. return to the summit of Otxolarre. The not unusual no find their ships in Afri- Jon Bilbao says that the first ele- south border is framed by Bizkargi and ca, Mar del Plata, Callao,... in most of ment in the word Mundaka, “Mund”, Oiz massifs. River Oka in its descent to- the Spanish ports there are ships from means in Danish rivermouth. Apparent- wards the sea has been the main desig- Bermeo. ly it was an important port long ago. At ner of the landscape, opening at its feet The isle of Izaro stands watch at the the beginning of this century Carmelo a great valley facing north. entrance of the estuary. It belongs no- de Etxegaray wrote: “there are few fis- The Urdaibai inner lands form an wadays to Bermeo. Centuries ago Ber- hermen there, and practically no one intricate pattern of mountains and va- meo and Mundaka fought for the pos- working in fields other than sailing”. lleys. During the last five centuries the session of this rock. To put an end to the Many of the Basques who emigrated to shape of this region has known great struggle, they decided that the isle the Philippine Islands came from this changes, especially because men used would belong to the village whose trai- part of Bizkaia. The last Major of Mani- its woods in the ironworks or to build nera would arrive in the first place to la, José Manuel Etxeita, was from Mun- ships. the rock. The inhabitants of Elantxobe daka, and he is considered one of the It is precisely in fishing and ship- acted as judges. Bermeo won. The ver- most important writers in Euskera of the building techniques where the inheri- dict did not please the inhabitants of 20th century. tance from the Vikings seems more cer- Mundaka who called since then those The cultural expressions of the tain. As Rabot from France states “the of Elantxobe “makueses” (bad judges). neighboring Busturia are mostly rural,

16 but in those of Mundaka the streets take a leading role. This village offers one of the most curious examples of urban Shrovetide. A group of young boys do an “eskea”: they give satirical verses in exchange of money and food. The boys are called “atorrak” because of the cos- tumes they wear. Busturia is mainly a farming village, but some small industries have gathered around it. Sukarrieta is an old and small village. At the end of 19th century it started to attract tourists: a hotel was built in Txantxarramendi, which hosts nowadays the Oceanographic Institute. The tomb of Sabino Arana, the founder of Basque nationalism is also in Sukarrie- ta. Our oldest reliable news are from the Bizkaian village of Forua. It is certain that the Romans occupied it when using the Gernika river as a refuge. The village name, which is clearly of Latin origin, “forum”, hints at a commercial past. Finally we reach Gernika. The Saint Town of the Basques is in the water church of Santa Eugenia in Bermeo, af- told the Bizkaian representatives that he meadows of River Oka. Maybe the sea ter the assembly held under the Gerni- had just ordered the National Factory reached the town in the past, and per- ka Tree had finished. of Sevres to make three great porcelain haps there was a little port there. That Gautegiz de Arteaga is very close vases with the pictures of the emperors would explain the creation of a small to Gernika. In the Middle Ages the vi- and their son. Those three vases are trade area that became in 1366 a “village witnessed many bloody battles now in the office of the General Deputy lla” by decree of Don Tello Lopez de between the Abendaño and the Mugi- of Bizkaia. Haro, when the faction fights made it ca-Butrón families. The Arteaga de Not very long ago, the French ar- necessary to protect the villages, espe- Gautegiz family supported the Aben- chitect Couvrechef came to Arteaga, cially if they played an important role in daño faction. Maria Eugenia de Guz- sent by the emperors. He had been the trade. Nowadays Gernika is still a mán y Portocarrero, who is historically commissioned to rebuild their castle. He flourishing trade center, with a weekly known as Eugenia de Montijo, Empress died in the Bizkaian village, and was market fair. The town is also head of the of France, and the wife of Napoleon III, replaced by another imperial architect, region and, therefore, there are many came from this family. On March 16 Ancelet. The gardens that surrounded lawyers living there. 1856 the couple had a son, Imperial the castle were designed by an English- Gernika is, with Donibane Garazi, Prince Eugenio Luis Juan Jose Bonapar- man named Newman. one of the centers of Basque emigra- te. The strategic location of the region tion. My great-grandparents signed be- When the news reached Bizkaia, was the cause of many struggles; but fore the Gernika notary their marriage on July 16 1856, the General Assembly few of them were as cruel a last civil contract, before travelling to Mountain declared him “Bizkaian descendant of war. The waters of Cape Matxitxako Home (Idaho). Grandfather Melitón clear blood”. His parents accepted this witnessed the battle of the “bous” du- contributed to the marriage settlement title and a banquet was celebrated. In ring which the small fishing boats 12,000 gold pesetas in sheep. spite of all the intrigues planned against equipped with cannons of the Govern- The Vikings also left their trace in the Basque ambassadors named by the ment of Euzkadi fought an unequal the political organization. The Juntas General Assembly, they were very well battle against the rebel navy. A little bit Generales (general assembly) have a received and they were treated with later, on April 26 1937, German and lot in common with the democratic or- gratitude and respect. The Emperor re- Italian airplanes following Franco’s organization of the northern peoples. Ac- quested the certificate that declared that ders bombed and destroyed Gernika. cording to the Fuero, the Lords of Biz- his son was Bizkaian, and also a copy Today the matyr Gernika wants to be kaia had to take oath in the parish of the Fuero de Bizkaia. Moreover, he above all a symbol of peace. ■

17 THE PRESIDENTS OF CHILE AND SAHARA VISITED EUSKADI

wo illustrious visitors, the President of Chile, Eduardo Frei, and his wife, basque descendant Marta Larraechea, and the Secretary of the Saharaoui National Front, T and President of the Republic of Sahara, Mohamed Abdelaziz visited Euskadi at the beginning of the year.

At the beginning of a busy day with le”, for the idea came from the Chilean- favor of the Saharan people, and the dense political, economic and cultural Basque Cultural Association Alonso de representatives of the councils of seve- contents, Frei was awarded the “Lagun Ercilla, which was founded by Basques ral villages paired with his country, we- Onari” distinction by Lehendakari Ar- that had lived in Chile, and has at re waiting for him at the airport and danza, because of his friendly attitude present more than a hundred members. they greeted him with shouts such as towards Euskadi. Both leaders referred Afterwards Frei closed a business “Sahara askatu”. to the historical and cultural relations meeting in which Basques were encou- Abdelaziz held many institutional uniting Basques and Chileans, and they raged to invest in that country. meetings during his stay in Euskadi, remembered that sentence by Unamu- But the visit had also a sentimental and he showed his gratitude for the no stating that “the world owes two component, for the President’s wife, Basque help during this 25 years of things to the Basques: the Society of Je- who was visiting Euskadi for the first ti- exile. “We are very honored to be he- sus and Chile”. President Frei said the me, wanted to know her grandfather’s re because the Basque Country has es- distinction was a great honor for Chile, motherland, and she was very moved, tablished many ties with the Saharan and the Lehendakari underlined the especially when she visited Deusto. people. During all these years the Bas- warm attitude Chile has always shown ques have been in the first line of de- Basque emigrants. He spoke in favor of THE BASQUES SUPPORT THE SAHARAN fense of our rights”, he declared. Ho- increasing the cooperation existing bet- PEOPLE wever, he requested the aid from the ween both countries. As a first step in Basque institutions in order to ensure this direction, both presidents chaired The General Secretary of the Politi- that the referendum on the indepen- the signature of a collaboration agree- cal liberation of Sahara and Rio de dence of his country, which will be ment in technologic and business mat- Oro Front, and also President of the Re- held on December 7 “is clean, demo- ters. public of Sahara, Mohamed Abdela- cratic, just and transparent”. The Se- From Vitoria Frei traveled to Bilbao, ziz, visited Euskadi to receive the prize cretary of the Front pointed out that where he uncovered, with emotion and “Mirror of the world” awarded by the the aid from the Basque people has surrounded by many fellow countrymen, Sabino Arana Foundation. On his arri- made it possible to “create important a head in honor of the poet and soldier val he could experience the warm sup- links between the Saharan and Basque of Basque descent, Alonso de Ercilla y port his cause arises in Euskadi, for peoples, which could be reinforced, Zuñiga, author of the poem “La Arau- hundreds of people, including Euro- once the independence was reached, cana”. There is an inscription in the mo- pean representatives of the front he di- in order to work together in many dif- nument that says “The Basques to Chi- rects, members of every association in ferent fields”. ■

18 XXXXXXXXXXXXXINSTITUTIONS XXXXXXXXERAKUNDEAK

LEHENDAKARI ARDANZA VISITS SLOVENIA

sloveniako Presidenteak konbidatuta, Jose Antonio Ardanza Lehendakariak Esloveniako Errepublika bisitatu zuen martxoaren hasieran. Bertan, Lehendakaria E Milan Kucan Presidentearekin eta ekonomiako ministro guztiekin bildu zen harreman ekonomiko, komertzial eta kulturalen oinarriak finkatzeko asmoz. Eta bilera horietan hain zuzen ere, elkarren artean alderdi amankomunak dituztela ohartu ziren bi herrietako buruzagiak. Hau dela eta, mota guztietako harremanak sendotzea erabaki zuten hobeto elkar ezagutzeko. Elkarlan lan honi hasiera emateko, Esloveniako eta Euskadiko erakundeek hiru lankidetza hitzarmen izenpetu zituzten gai enpresarial, industrial eta energetikoez.

Lehendakari José Antonio Ardanza visited the Republic of Slovenia at the beginning of March. Milan Kucan, Pre- sident of the Republic invited Ardanza, who held meetings with the President of the Government and with all the minis- ters of the economic area. The founda- tions for future institutional relations with the Government of Slovenia, and for the promotion of economic, commercial and cultural relations were laid during these meetings. Slovenia and the Central and Eas- tern European countries are practically unknown for Basque businessmen. For the last few years they have made great efforts to become international, but the Latin American countries have been their main targets. The aim of this institutional visit was to explore the possibilities offered by Slovenia, which seems Lehendakari José Antonio Ardanza met the President of Slovenia, Milan Kucan. to be the central axis of a potential market of more than 100 million people. The Basque delegation was formed ta income is about $9000. The political they know this will benefit both parties. by the Industry, Farming and Fishing and institutional representatives of the They were also interested in the tax and Consultant, by the president of Basque country are determined to integrate linguistic policies developed in Euskadi, businessmen (CONFEBASK) and by re- Slovenia in the western political and and they wish to know more about the presentatives of some Basque industrial economic circles and they are in the scientific and research policies. and energy companies and institutions. middle of an intense process of nego- During the visit of the Basque dele- Lehendakari Ardanza and President tiations in order to be part of NATO gation three cooperation agreements Milan Kucan realized in the course of and the European Union. were signed by Basque and Slovenian their meetings that there are many things The Slovenian authorities showed institutions in the business, industry and in common between the Basque and their gratitude for the immediate sup- energy areas. Some Basque companies Slovenian peoples, and they decided to port they received during the first mo- that are already present in Slovenia will promote all kinds of exchanges in order ments of their independence. As far as have the opportunity to enlarge their to get better acquainted. Euskadi is concerned, the representati- business in that country. Slovenia is a small country with a ves of the Slovenian Government were The President of Slovenia, Milan population of 2 million people, it is lo- mainly interested, apart from the indus- Kucan accepted Lehendakari Ardan- cated in the north of old Yugoslavia. It trial and farming promotion policies, in za’s invitation and announced his inten- became independent in 1991. Its eco- encouraging Slovenian companies to tion of making an official visit to Euska- nomy is very industrial and its per capi- contact directly Basque companies, for di in the near future. ■

19 XXXXXXXXXXXXXINSTITUTIONS XXXXXXXXERAKUNDEAK

The President of the first Basque General Council and President of the Socialist party received the highest distinction of the Basque Country HISTORIC SOCIALIST RAMON RUBIAL IS AWARDED THE GERNIKA TREE CROSS

The historic socialist leader, Ramón Rubial received from Lehendakari Ardanza the “Gernika Tree Cross”, the highest distinction of the Basque Country, last February 17, exactly 20 years after the constitution of the Basque General Council, the pre-autonomic institution that was the embryo of the Basque Government, and that was chaired by Rubial. During the ceremony, where the members of that first Council were present, Le- hendakari Ardanza thanked this “great Basque” for his “dedication and love for the Basque People, and for his defense of de- mocracy and freedom at a time when such defense meant taking a high risk”. He also admired “his unyielding resistance and his loyalty towards himself and his ideals, which were both of them very hardly tried during the long years of prison, persecution and secrecy”. Before he pinned the medal on his lapel, the Lehendakari ended his speech with a heartfelt “Thank you Ramón Rubial for all you have done for us, and thank you, most of all, for being the way you are”. The 91-year-old socialist veteran born in Erandio, who spent 20 years in prison during Franquism, said some moving words about “the anonymous women and men who helped recover the freedom which was taken from us by the winners of that dammed and cruel civil war”. He also stated that the Basque self-government, which came out of that stage, must always be defended. ■

The Basque Government awards five basque personalities the “Lagun Onari”

The Basque Government has awarded the first “Lagun Onari” prizes in acknowledgment of the work of outs- tanding Basques who have worked in their professions showing special dedication, determination and enterprise. In this first edition the Government has awarded the prizes to Juan Arre- gui, the businessman from Alava, Luis Villasante, linguist and academician, Telmo Zarraonaindia, Zarra, the mythi- cal football player, José María Ormae- txea, who promoted the Mondragón Cooperative, and Jose Angel Sanchez Asiain, who created the BBV. From left to right Sanchez Asiain, Ormaetxea, Zarra, Villasante and Arregui listen to the During a very moving ceremony, words of praise spoken by the Government spokeswoman, M. Carmen Garmendia. Lehendakari José Antonio Ardanza pointed out that all of them have ved to us that excellence and simplicity, solidarity, can not only coexist, but they something in common: “they have pro- competitiveness and fair play, work and need each other” ■

20 XXXXXXXXXXXXXECONOMY XXXXXXXXEKONOMIA

THE ALAVAN EXPORTERS OPEN A VIRTUAL SHOP INTERNET OPENS THE DOORS OF THE MAIN WINE CELLARS OF ALAVAN RIOJA

Sergio Juanena

rrioxako ardoak mun- duko edozein jantoki- E tan aurki ditzakegu. Eta orain, Interneten bidez, ardo horien ezaugarriak ezagutzeko eta ardoak erosteko aukera dugu.

Those who travel on luxurious Scandinavian ferries or those sitting at picturesque Munich restaurants will see an ample variety of wines from Alavan Rioja in their menus. In the best Euro- pean, Japanese, American and Cana- dian markets, the wine cellars of Ala- van Rioja are taking the first ranks of demand from hotel business owners Javier Ruiz de Galarreta, director of ARAEX. and wine experts. Internet offers in its web pages an interesting view of the best known labels that give name to the que Wine cellars that can be found sin- But independently of this perma- wines. ce April ’98 in the Internet address nent presence of the Basque export The main Basque export group of www.araex.com.: Valserrano, Sola- group, there are other wine cellars of wines from Rioja –Araex– has opened güen, Viña Diezmo, Luis Cañas, Lar- Alavan Rioja that are becoming increa- a virtual shop in Internet, where orders chago, Don Balbino, Viña Lur, Muriel, singly relevant internationally. Such is can be placed for vintage wines from Heredad de Baroja, the case of Faustino Martinez, Campi- all over the world. This interactive esta- The Basque company Jet Internet, llo, Marqués de Riscal, Martinez Bujan- blishment informs the users of the net which is the main supplier of Internet da and Viñedos del Contino. about the qualities of each year, and in- for Spanish companies, has made it Javier Ruiz de Galarreta is the ma- teresting information about Alava. possible to design and plan the new vir- naging director of Araex. He combines The main wine cellars of Alavan tual shop of Alavan Rioja. The users will his management duties with constant Rioja have united in Araex in order to find there different stands, information trips to different European countries attend trade shows and exhibitions about the seasons, prices and descrip- and to the Far East. “The wines from such as Vinexpo in Bordeaux, Selec- tions that will help them chose their pur- Rioja are some of the best in Europe. tions Mondials in Canada, and London chases, which will reach their homes no They are made according to very strict fairs. This powerful export group has matter which part of the planet they techniques and they are far better than sold last year more than 2.5 million live in, with the security protocol called many other traditional wines”, explains bottles of red wines. These are the Bas- SET. the promoter of Araex.

21 XXXXXXXXXXXXXECONOMY XXXXXXXXEKONOMIA

The 1997 vintage of Alavan Rioja is excellent both in quality and quantity.

CHILLIDA AND RIOJA WINE The Council of Rioja offered recent- vement of the quality of image, to a ly sculptor Eduardo Chillida a cere- good marketing policy and to the abun- Some weeks ago Ruiz de Galarreta mony in his honor, and he chaired in dance and good quality of the latest visited Helsinki and Stockholm with the Sweden the presentation of his work grape harvests. prestigious cook José Miguel Urdanga- next to a stand with Alavan Rioja wines The Germans are the citizens who rín, in order to make a gastronomic de- of different vintages. consume a higher number of bottles of monstration of Basque cuisine. The According to the Consejo Regula- Rioja wine, followed by the British, north European cooks warmly received dor de Denominaciónde Origen Califi- Swedes, Danish, Swiss, Dutch, Ameri- the culinary suggestions, and also the cada Rioja (the council regulating the cans, Norwegians, French and Japane- wines from Rioja. Several of these culi- label Rioja), the sales of these wines ha- se. According to Javier Ruiz de Gala- nary experts visited Vitoria-Gasteiz ve increased during 1997 by 15.11%, rreta, “the Euskal Etxeak spread all and were shown in detail different as- reaching the amount of 205.2 million over the world are one of our best ca- pects of the capital of Euskadi. liters. This is due to the constant impro- lling cards, for nobody doubts that their members are excellent wine and food tasters”. The director of Araex agrees with the president of the Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Califi- cada Rioja, Angel de Jaime Baró, who says that the good results of Rioja wines in international markets are due to “the excellent microclimate existing in this region of the north of the Iberian Penin- sula, to the unique process of elabora- tion and to the special conditions of the soil of its lands”. “The new shop we have opened in Internet is an excellent way of visiting our wine cellars of Alavan Rioja –explains Ruiz de Galarreta– we trust that it will help us not only comply with the increasing demand of our wines, but also give men and women interested in wine all over the world the chance to compare and get to know new pro- The main wine cellars from Alavan Rioja are present in all the international markets. ducts”. ■

22 XXXXXXXXXXXXXECONOMY XXXXXXXXEKONOMIA BASQUE INDUSTRY IN LATIN AMERICA

Adapting to the new international market does not mean increasing the rate of exports, but achieving a deep knowledge of the foreign market and entering it as a natural market. The times of mere trade relations and spo- radic exports of the eighties are finished. When Basque industries are established in countries belonging to the European Union, it creates economic activity in the inner market, just as it does in any region of the Spanish Sta- te. Therefore, the challenge of the Bas- ques is to chose raising countries from Latin America and Southeastern Asia, as well as the United States and Cana- da. Basque businessmen are determined to create economic activity on their own or with a local partner, provided there is profit for all parties. Gamesa is one of the Basque companies established in America During the last few years there has been an important increase of activity in Latin America, which has become a Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uru- preferential area for Basque industry. guay, with very different projects, such Basque economy The internationalization of Basque in- as strategic alliances, industrial im- dustry in this part of the world has had plantation or large facilities. The sec- surpasses all the such a development thanks to the Fo- tors of international activity accurately reign Action Cooperation Institutes reflect the Basque industrial special- existing in Mexico, Chile, Argentina ties, especially business equipment, forecasts and Venezuela, and also thanks to the ironworks, machine tools, aeronautics, net of SPRI agents established in Argen- energy, telecommunications, home Last year-end figures have sur- tina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, electrical appliances, etc. passed all the forecasts done by the Brazil and Cuba (the last two have This year SPRI plans to promote Basque Government and by other been named recently). strategic alliances between small and economic institutions. According to The SPRI, Society for the Industrial medium-sized Basque and Latin Ameri- the latest provisional data of EUSTAT Promotion and Rationalization, a pu- can companies. They expect to create blic enterprise depending on the In- about 30 alliances, which will increase (Basque Institute of Statistics), in dustry, Farming and Fishing Depart- the sales by 15 million dollars. This will 1997 the Basque GNP has increa- ment of the Basque Government, star- pave the way for the direct establish- sed by 4.2%, the biggest increase ted in 1994 the internationalization ac- ment of Basque companies in this side since 1989, and nearly one point tivities in Latin America, when 4 invest- of the American continent. During this above that of Spain (3.4). This im- year 5 companies are expected to crea- ment projects proved successful. These provement is due to the good beha- four were followed by the other six te new factories in America. vior of industrial activity and exports achieved in 1995, the fifteen of 1996, In the subject of foreign investments the 28 of last year, and the 40 that are in Euskadi there have been no positive during last quarter, especially in De- estimated for this year. results until the moment, but maybe so- cember. The Basque Government ex- The most intense relations have me agreements will be reached this pects a growth of 3.8% for 1998. ■ been held with Argentina, Brazil, year. ■

23 BILBAO WELCOMES THE ONLY JOINT EXHIBITIONOF SOROLLA AND ZULOAGA

This is the first time a museum, America, who tried to show their opposing paths they followed. Howe- the Fine Arts Museum of Bilbao, has paintings in their New York head- ver the selected works also show the received a joint exhibition of painters quarters. similarities in style which united Soro- Sorolla and Zuloaga. This exhibition The paintings, different from lla, the artist from Valencia, and Bas- shows two opposing esthetic visions those shown usually in other exhibi- que Zuloaga. There are even some of late 19th century: one belonging to tions, came from about thirty national paintings from Sorolla that seem to the black and pessimistic Spain of the and international museums such as el have been painted by Zuloaga and ’98 generation, that of Zuloaga, and Prado, the Hermitage in Saint Peters- vice versa. the other more vital one of the rege- burg, D’orsay in Paris, the New York This extraordinary exhibition has nerative artists, that of Sorolla. This Metropolitan and the Berlin National attracted the interest of the public for way the dream of both artists of sho- Gallery, among others. 130,000 people have visited it. This wing their works together has finally Francisco Calvo Serraller was the figure is a historic record for the mu- come true. Their wish could not be commissioner of the exhibition that seum, an unprecedented success, gratified during their lifetime, in spite followed the artistic paths of both and it had to last longer than initially of the efforts done at the beginning of painters during the years when their planned. Moreover, a second edition the century by the Hispanic Society of careers intersected, so as to show the of the catalogue had to be printed. ■

LITERATURE IN EUSKERA CROSSES THE FRONTIERS

The literature in Euskera in going nish under the title “Pasos Incontables” toria engrosses this way the list of through one of its best moments and it (Countless Steps) and published by Es- Basque writers that have been transla- has crossed its own frontiers when se- pasa. This work, which was awarded ted to other languages. Atxaga, veral works from prestigious Basque in 1995 the Prize of the Critics, and whose works “Obabakoak”, winner of writers are being translated to many which is considered by many experts the National Prize of Literature in languages. The last example was that the best Basque novel of history 1989, “Those skies” and “A Man of Ramon Saizarbitoria, a very admi- together with “Obabakoak” by Ber- Alone” have also been translated, is red author in the world of Basque lite- nardo Atxaga, describes the last days also on the list, and so are “Otto rature, whose latest novel, “Hamaika of one of the last condemned to death Pette” by Angel Lertxundi and the pauso” has been translated into Spa- under Franco’s dictatorship. Saizarbi- Children’s tales by Mariasun Landa. ■

24 XXXXXXXXXXXXXCULTURE KULXXXXXXXXTURA

CHILLIDA AND OTEIZA HUG EACH OTHER, ENDING THIRTY YEARS OF ENMITY

Zabalaga caserío, in Hernani, Gipuzkoa witnessed the historic hug of the two most representative Basque sculptors. Jorge Oteiza, 85, born in Orio, and Eduardo Chillida, 75, born in Donostia closed in that fashion long years of personal confrontation caused by their different ways of understanding art and life. Oteiza went to Zabalaga, a 16th century caserío that hosts the so-called Chillida space, and in the company of Chi- llida he admired the sculptures exhibited there. The meeting was warm, they talked as two old friends that share lots of things and, finally, under the shadow of the work “Basarka- da”, they exchanged a brotherly embrace. At the end of the visit both artists signed an agreement stating that “regardless of our differences there will always be a space and a time for peace”. ■

loped his research in different Euro- pean and American cities, and he is at Oscar did not reach Euskadi present a research professor in the Phi- losophy Institute of the Consejo Supe- It could not be. Montxo Armen- rior de Investigaciones Científicas (su- dariz, the director from Navarre, perior council of scientific research) in and his team almost touched with Madrid. He is also the most important the tips of their fingers the Oscar of professor of Logic and Science Philo- the Hollywood Academy for the best sophy of the whole State. He has done film not spoken in English with “Se- crets from the Heart”, but finally they many studies on the social and home did not get it. And the world lost the consequences of the new technologies, chance to hear the grateful words in and he is the author of “Telepolis” and Euskera. However this won’t stop the “Domestic Cosmopolitans”, which won film from continuing its triumphant the Anagrama Prize for Essays. march, maybe even in the United On receiving the award, endowed States, after having been awarded in this second edition with 6 million pe- the Blue Angel Prize for the best fo- Philosopher Javier setas, Echeverria underlined the impor- reign film by the European Aca- tance of the philosophers’ contribution to demy in the Berlin Festival, several Echeverria Awarded science and progress. “Considering that Goya prizes in Spain and the Prize to research is to make a better present, of the Public in Chicago. “Secrets from the heart”, produ- the Euskadi Prize for reconstruct the past and design the futu- ced by Basque director Imanol Uribe Research re, philosophy can contribute to progress and by the Basque Government has on its own”. The philosopher spoke in fa- already conquered the hearts of vor of plurality and cultural intermin- thousands and thousands of specta- The Basque Government awarded gling, and stated that all sciences de- tors, and that is no small feat. ■ Javier Echeverria Ezponda, the philo- pend on one another, and therefore, he sopher and mathematician born in renewed his engagement with “the deve- Pamplona, the Euskadi Price for Re- lopment of institutions for philosophic, search ’97. This time the prize has been scientific and technologic research to given to an active Basque scientist. keep promoting the progress of Euskadi Echeverría, whose parents emigra- and safeguarding interdependence, plu- ted from Navarre to Mexico, has deve- rality and cooperation”. ■

25 XXXXXXXXXXXXXCOOPERATION XXXXXXXXLANKIDETZA

Basque aid takes an electric equipment to the poorest region in Colombia UNGIA, THE LIGHT IS HERE Ungía, a small village in the Co- form, which means it has been adapted lombian region of El Chocó, one of the physically and technically to the su- poorest in the country, has now electri- rroundings where it is going to work. city thanks to a cooperation project The platform can also work with other launched by the Secretary of Foreign platforms, and in case the needs chan- Action of the Basque Government, and ged, it could be moved to another pla- with the collaboration of the Basque ce. Energy Institute and the Basque com- In this occasion the aid from the pany Guascor. Several months ago the Basque Country has reached one of the whole population of Ungía and its re- 20 villages of the poorest region in Co- gion, about 15,000 people, started to lombia. Ungía has an extension of get electricity in their homes, something 1,990 square kilometers and it is loca- that only 30% of the population had un- ted in an area where great mountain til they received the electric generation chains are followed by tropical jungles platform given by the Basque institu- of difficult access, and flanked by huge tions. rivers. These geographical conditions The platform consists of a Diesel make it difficult to extend the transport A basque plan against electrogenic group of 800 kw, integra- and energy nets to the whole region. drugs reaches more than ted in a sound-proof cabin built, insta- The population of the region is about lled and started by Guascor company. 15,000 people, and half of them are a hundred thousand latin The generation group is a tropical plat- farmers. ■ american children

More than a hundred thousand Latin American children aged between 8 and 11 are taking part in a program to prevent drug consum- mation. The Basque non-governmen- tal organization Edex has promoted this program with the support of the Basque Government, the Central Go- vernment and the European Union. This same program was launched in 1989 in Basque schools. At present the program “The Adventure of Life” is working in Ecuador, Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Argentina. And some other countries such as Pana- ma and Chile are interested in including it in their school programs. The aim of the project is to help children learn to live without drugs and therefore their families and their su- rroundings have an important role An electric generation platform manufactured by the Basque Company Guascor will take to play in it. ■ electricity to the homes in el Chocó.

26 Young Basque Government Scholarship holders work all over the world as UNESCO volunteers

The Basque Government has granted scholarships to ten young Basques who will work as volunteers in several cooperation projects UNESCO is un- dertaking in different American and Asian countries. The project is the result of a cooperation agreement signed between this United Nations Organiza- tion, which deals with Education, Scien- ce and Culture, and the Basque Go- vernment. It will enable these young Basques to work at the UNESCO offices in the fields of communication, environ- ral Director of UNESCO, Federico Ma- of an ambitious program of coopera- ment protection, and cultural promo- yor Zaragoza, and by the Vicelehenda- tion for development and aid of the tion, as well as in humanitarian assis- kari, Juan José Ibarretxe. During the ce- poorest countries. This program is tance. remony Mayor Zaragoza promised he sponsored by the Basque institutions, The first group of young people, se- would personally make sure “that this which will set aside 4.5 billion pesetas ven women and three men, have al- first batch is successful in substituting a –0’7% of their budget– this year for this ready gone to their destinations. This ti- little by a little the seeds of hate, con- purpose. One of the priorities of this me they are going to Bolivia, Ecuador, frontation and intolerance by those of program is precisely to promote the in- Guatemala, Haiti, El Salvador, Pana- understanding and love”. The Basque tegration of young Basques in humani- ma, Peru, Uruguay and Pakistan. The Vicelehendakari on his side pointed out tarian aid projects organized by United Basque Government has given each vo- that in this project “Euskadi is offering Nations organizations such as UNES- lunteer a grant for a total amount of 2 the world the best trained youth of all CO, UNICEF, ACNUR or PNUD. 200 million pesetas for the whole year. our history, which is our biggest asset”. people have already received these The contracts of the scholarship hol- The scholarships granted by the scholarships, and 25 of them will be ders were signed in Paris by the Gene- Government in Vitoria are only a part working in international institutions. ■

EUSKADI ENGAGED ITS WORD WITH

The Basque capitals witnessed in February a Conference of Solida- rity with Asia, organized by the Basque Government, where prestigious speakers described the present problems of this Continent. These were some of the Conferen- ce guests: the King, Lama Thubten Wanchen, director of the Tibet House in Barcelona, D. Khaled Sa- lem, Arab press correspondent and university professor, and Monsig- nor Belo, who won the ’96 Nobel Prize together with José Ramos Horta, for his work in East Timor in defense of the self-determination In the picture, folk group Adivasi, from Gujerat (India) that enchanted the audience during right of this little country invaded by the conference exhibiting the traditional folklore of their land. Indonesia. ■

27 SPORTS KIROLAK

A CENTURY IN SOCCER

Pedro Mari Goikoetxea and during the half time break the British offered the Bilbao players roast izkaitar chicken, we suppose wi- guztiek bi- ne was included too. We hotzean da- don’t know for sure B whether that was just a ramaten Athletic display of courtesy or taldeak dagoene- rather strategy (it seems ko ehun urte bete they were well aware of ditu. Ospakizu- our weaknesses). Any- nak handiak way, the match was just izango dira, bai- a walkover for the inven- na dudarik gabe, tors of “foot-ball”, who won 6-0. In spite of the iraganean izan- crushing defeat, the pla- dako lorpen bi- yers did not lose heart, kainak errepika- and the seeds of this tzea litzateke os- sport found fertile soil in pakizunik handie- this land. From that mo- na. ment in the circles of the Café García and in the meetings of the Sociedad Gimnástica Zamacois, Bilbao, a city open to the idea of creating a the world through the team like the British ones sea, kept at the end of started to take form. Juan 19th century close trade Astorkia, a “sportsman” and industrial relations born in Bilbao and trai- with Britain. Therefore, ned in Manchester, was there was an important the main promoter of this British colony in the Biz- project, and he became a kaian capital, and at the player and captain of the same time, many young ATHLETIC. Basques studied in Bri- Official poster of the centennial, painted by Basque artist Iñaki García Er- As rivalry is essential tain. This exchanges ena- güin. in this sport, three teams bled the young men from were created in Bilbao: Bilbao to discover “foot- the ATHLETIC, the BIL- ball”, a game that soon BAO F.C. and THE found success in a society The young boys were thrilled by UNION. Although the where the only entertainment was the this new “sport”, and according to the first directing board of the ATHLETIC Euskalduna pelota court, the Campos chronicles of the time, they were brave was not organized until June 11 1901, Elíseos, the Teatro Circo del Ensanche enough to challenge a group of British. during the first board meeting year and the popular “Salón Olimpia”. The match took place on May 3 1894, 1898 was considered the real date of

28 The city does not forget the Centennial of its team. the foundation of the club. Surely those a time when people said that the final Fortunately the eighties started keen followers of the “big ball” could of the Cup was fought always between much better; there was the League hardly imagine that the ATHLETIC CLUB the ATHLETIC and another club. In this Championship won in 1983, after 27 DE BILBAO would reach the social sup- sense, as the poet said, “all times past long years of drought in this competi- port and the extraordinary list of victo- were better”. tion. Next season was even better, for ries it has achieved during this century. Apart from the mentioned 23 Cups, the “Lyons” won both the Cup and the there were 8 league titles, and the team League. When they came back they became the fourth of the Spanish soc- were received in due fashion. The “ga- A SUCCESSFUL CAREER cer, after REAL MADRID, BARCELONA, barra” sailed along the river to celebra- and their subsidiary team, ATLETICO te their success, and hundreds of thou- For lack of official competitions, the DE MADRID. They have not yet won a sands of supporters filled the riverbanks city teams played matches full of rivalry continental title, although they very with red and white. It was an unforget- until in 1902 the ATHLETIC and the BIL- nearly got it in 1977. That year, which table scene and one that will be difficult BAO decided to join their efforts in or- was one of the most brilliants in the his- to witness again. der to take part in national and interna- tory of ATHLETIC, was also paradoxi- tional competitions. That was the begin- cally the season with worst luck anyone ning of the team BIZKAYA, which pla- remembers. After reaching a third posi- CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS yed this same year in May in Madrid, tion in the league, the Bilbao team rea- in a tournament organized to celebrate ched the final of UEFA, but they were Although the “gabarra” is ancho- the coronation of King Alfonso XIII. The defeated by the Turin JUVENTUS, red, the red and whites have reasons to BIZKAYA defeated 5-1 the ESPAÑOL, which was practically the Italian selec- celebrate. Few entities reach their first 8-1 the Madrid NEW F.C. and 2-1 the tion at the time. Moreover the defeat century showing pride in their pasts, BARCELONA, and so won the much took place for the double of the goals in keeping their identity signals and in coveted trophy. This was the opening of the contrary field in case of tie (1-0 and good health. a long series of successes. 2-1). The celebrations of the centennial In 1903, and under the name The ATHLETIC meant to make it up started months ago, at the beginning of ATHLETIC, once the BILBAO disappea- in a new Cup final, but the BETIS finally the new soccer season. However the red completely, they won the first offi- won the trophy after 120 minutes of most important acts are still to come. cial Cup. Many others came after- match and after no less than 20 penalty On April 25, the famous Italian tenor wards, up to 23. That is why there was kicks. Luciano PAVAROTTI will perform in San

29 SPORTS KIROLAK

and a soccer school. These sport facilities, which are similar to those of a High Performance Center, are very well equipped, both from the point of view of staff and equipment. On the other hand, we should men- tion the deep-rooted loyalty the club has found in the Bizkaian society, which provides an ample and faithful social support. However, from the point of view of sport, ATHLETIC is not going through one of its best moments. For the last 13 years the club has been far for a Cup final, which is its favorite tournament. La- tely the only available aim seems to be to reach a good classification in the league so as to take part in continental competitions. The Bosman Law, which allows the free circulation of European soccer players, and the increasing number of foreign players in the Spanish League, have substantially raised the level of the rival teams. Doubtlessly, this makes it more difficult for a club that still boasts the unique feature of admitting only Basque players. This tradition, which some find admirable and others impossible to understand in a world that has become so mercantile, is a serious han- dicap for the ATHLETIC club, although it was described by the prestigious Mamés. At the beginning of May more ble to their interests. However the Ma- French newspaper L’EQUIPE as “a uni- than 330 groups of supporters of the llorca eliminated them in quarterfinals, que case in the soccer world”. ATHLETIC spread all over Spain, inclu- which was a big disappointment for the The red and white club has two ding the cybernetic group created club and its supporters. main objectives for this new century: through Internet, will celebrate a very The ATHLETIC team hopes at least the first one, which according to the special Congress in the Bizkaian capital. to have the Spanish Federation ack- managing board cannot be delayed On the last day of May the Brazilian nowledge the 1902 Coronation Trophy any more, is the building of the new selection, four times world champion, as the first official Cup. In that case the San Mamés, a bigger, more comforta- will play against ATHLETIC. This will be red and whites would have a total of 24 ble and modern stadium. the first time they play against a club. cups, and they would still be the Cup The second one, as important as The Rolling Stones will be here in Ju- kings. the first one, is to improve the perfor- ne, and there will also be many festivals, mance of the team. In the Europe that is exhibitions, gigs, etc. To sum up, many being created a little by a little, it does acts of different descriptions, tastes, PRESENT AND FUTURE not seem preposterous to foresee that ideologies and sectors will unite to cele- the state championships may gradually brate one common feeling: ATHLETIC. For the last few years ATHLETIC give way to other competitions of a To win a title would have doubtless- and its city, Bilbao, are following simi- higher level. The Athletic club must take ly been the best ending for the centen- lar paths. After overcoming a period of that direction, for the resources provi- nial. That is why, since the beginning of crisis they are busy laying the founda- ded by a community of scarcely 3 mi- the season, lots of efforts have been tions of a hopeful future. llion people, and with other clubs, is ne- placed in the direction of the King’s The club from Bilbao has at present cessarily limited. Possibly the club from Cup. The Bilbao players wanted to ree- a solid infrastructure. On one hand the Bilbao will decide to open its doors to nact their love affair with that competi- Lezama facilities, built during the se- the Basque players of the Diaspora in tion that has traditionally been favora- venties, to provide both a training pitch the near future. ■

30 OUR CUISINE GURE SUKALDARITZA TunaTuna withwith PeppersPeppers

A recipe by José Castillo

NGREDIENTS for six people

6 tuna slices of about 250 grams each 2 red sweet peppers 30 small green peppers 8 garlic cloves oil and salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Roast the two red sweet peppers, remove peel and pips, and cut into pieces. Pour six oil spoonfuls into a pan and fry two garlic cloves. When they are soft add the peppers and fry for 5 minutes. Pour the contents of the pan into a mixer with two spoonfuls of cold water. Mix and put the resulting sauce aside. Fry the green peppers in very hot oil, put them on a plate and add salt after they are fried. Place a clean old pan on the gas cooker, when very hot salt the tuna slices and rub them with new oil with the hands. Put them in the pan two at a time, and brown them in both sides (the tuna should be rare inside). Place them on a platter. Afterwards place a pan on the cooker with 6 oil spoonfuls and 6 garlic cloves; when the garlic cloves are golden and soft take them out and put them on a plate. Put the oil slices over and move the pan for around the pan and a fried garlic on an earthenware saucepan. Put it about another two minutes. Pour the clove on each slice. Let it simmer for on the fire. When the oil is hot, pla- pepper sauce in the spaces between two more minutes, then put aside ce the tuna slices side by side on the the slices and in the borders of the and cover for a little while so that it saucepan. After two minutes turn the pan. Put the fried green peppers rests before serving. ■

31 BASQUE COUNTRY When I tell them that I have brought not only my wife and children, but also my mother and sister in law... What a soap opera!

COME... AND TALK ABOUT US

“COME AND TALK ABOUT US WITH HUMOR” Euskadi’s intense tourist promotion campaign known for its catching slogan “Come and talk about us” presents a real image of the Basque Country, a land full of contrasts, nice and welcoming people... and with a keen sense of humor. That is why the most prestigious humorists have been asked to tell us how they see us Basques. In this issue we offer humorist Olmo’s funny vignette.