Issue 71. Year 2005

BasqueBasque centrescentres throughoutthroughout thethe worldworld The foreign action of the Basque Government AURKIBIDEA / SUMMARY

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK / CURRENT EVENTS: Basque centres throughout the world.

3 • Opening letter: Iñaki Aguirre Arizmendi. Kanpo Harremanetarako Idazkari Nagusia 5 • Interview with Mikel Burzako, Basque Director of Foreign Relations 8 • The foreign action of the Basque Government, by Alexander Ugalde Zubiri, Basque centres throughout the world Teacher of International Relations (UPV/EHU) The foreign action of the Basque Government 10 • Basque centres throughout the world. Lehendakari Aguirre at the ONU. Brussels, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Madrid 15 • Basque Centres throughout the world, by Josu Legarreta

Issue 71. Year 2005 ERREPORTAJEAK / REPORTS

16 • A country on the move: The local authorities seek to make access to the Internet universal.

EGILEA / AUTHOR 18 • Montxo Armendariz, cinema director: Eusko Jaurlaritza-Kanpo «I don’t lose sleep over the Oscars» Harremanetarako Idazkaritza Nagusia 20 • Euskaditik: The film "Aupa Etxebeste" Basque Government-General captures the public interest. Secretariat for Foreign Action 21 • Euskaditik: Double performance by the C/ Navarra, 2 Orfeón Donostiarra in Caracas. 01007 VITORIA-GASTEIZ Euskal gazteak munduan. Javier Bilbao Tel. no.: 945 01 7900 22 • [email protected] and Ainhoa Mendizábal.

ZUZENDARIA / DIRECTOR Josu Legarreta Bilbao Montxo Armendariz. COORDINATION AND EDITORIAL OFFICE A. Zugasti (Kazeta5 Komunikazioa) EUSKAL ETXEAK / BASQUE CENTERS ARGAZKIAK / PHOTOGRAPHS 24 • Seminar on the Basque Industrial Archive and Technological Model in Colombia ARGITARATZAILEA / EDITOR 26 • National Basque Week in Necochea Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia 28 • The Basque language, a living Basque Government Central language in Chile and Argentina Publication Service

30 • Basque Week in Venezuela Argentina. LAYOUT AND DESIGN Oihana Pagola (Didart) 31 • Obituaries: Monsignor Garmendia, the first Basque Bishop of New York, and Ricardo Maguregui. INPRIMATZAILEA / PRINTING Xxxxxxxxxxx ISSN: 1579-4210 BASQUE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

Aurkezpena Opening letter

Kanpo Harremanetarako IÑAKI AGUIRRE ARIZMENDI Idazkari Nagusia

he evolution of the end of different and changing the 20th Century and the circumstances. But at the same beginning of the 21st were time, this same dimension renders Tconditioned by two factors us more vulnerable to such of major import in the international changes, thus international arena: European requiring a coordinated and integration and globalisation.There proactive action consolidating our can be no doubt that the last two pre-emptive capacity in order to decades have witnessed a growing push on towards an integral movement in Basque foreign international policy. trade and a clear trend towards However, Euskadi’s globalisation in The foreign action of international vocation several orders, is no overnight thing. albeit particularly the Basque Government In the midst of the in the world of Civil War,the Basque economics, Government had culture and already begun to communications, and macro-regional power are becoming increasingly more develop its own foreign relations policy. political structures such as the disperse, and call for a redefinition of The driving principles were the first European Union, MERCOSUR or sovereignty. Ministerial Declaration of October 7, NAFTA, to name but some. In turn, the 1936, which may be summarised in the desire to build this new international Within this trend towards progressive following points: to establish "good order with other peoples and cultures globalisation, the local and the singular relations" with countries that respected requires new alliances and instruments does not only manifest its relevant "the sovereignty and the rights" of the to bring such objectives to fruition. vitality through an attitude of self- Republic and Euskadi; to establish defence, but also claims participation links with "the Peoples" that uphold This evolution converges with the in the structuring of a new "democratic forms of government"; and changes which generally speaking are international order,demanding that the particularly with countries where there determining the configuration of personality of peoples, Stateless were "Basque Communities". From the international society as interdependent Nations and substate organisations be outset of its mandate, the Aguirre and transnational, where classic state respected and also recognised by Government showed a clear structures are being questioned and the suprastate echelons. commitment to projecting Euskadi State is no longer the exclusive abroad.The following year, 1937, saw figurehead in international relations. In this context, Euskadi is showing a the opening of Centres abroad and On the one hand, the contribution of special international dynamism which appointments of delegates, priorising supranational structures with strong is evident if we consider that at the relations with everything that decision-making powers and a major moment all the Departments of the represented institutional or decision- influence in States’ foreign and Basque Government, as well as the making power in Europe and America. domestic policies, and on the other the economic and social partners, are The management of international emergence of very decentralised engaged in some type of activity activities fell to the cabinet overall, structures with broad powers, show abroad. Being a small country allows although the Lehendakari played a that the concepts of authority and us to be flexible and adaptable to decisive role.

Issue 71. year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 3 EUSKAL ORDEZKARITZA MUNDUAN

The creation of Basque Government State for Spanish and foreign citizens; an interview with the first Secretary Centres abroad made it possible to visits to the Basque Country by General of the United Nations, the articulate a compact network of diplomats, journalists, work on foreign Norwegian Trygve Halvdan Lie, to contacts and relations at different exposure, the publication of books and whom he delivered the "Memorandum levels, which proved very useful magazines/journals, the organisation from The Autonomous Basque during the war and post-war years, of cultural tours, the creation of the Government to The Sub-Committee likewise promoting the international Basque Red Cross and the of The Security Council", which projection of the Basque people on a International League of Friends of the expounded aspects of Basque history, thitherto unheard-of scale. In this Basques, etc. the creation of the Government of regard, mention must be made of the Euskadi and the political and social Centres in Paris, London and With this spate of activities, which situation after the victory of the Brussels and, albeit with different greatly surpassed the powers awarded Francoist regime. characteristics, the representations in by the Statute of Autonomy, it is New York and Boise, the Geneva understandable why it was said more No less important was his work in project, which fell through, and the than once that the Basque disseminating Basque culture, his Centres in Argentina, Ecuador, Government of the time resembled a teamwork with Catalans and Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Foreign Office, led decisively by the Galicians in the reformulation of a Venezuela, Cuba, Uruguay, Chile, Lehendakari Aguirre himself, new State model, and his efforts for Colombia, Panama and Peru. In the although there was also a Secretariat the Basque Government to be Spanish State, Centres were opened for Foreign Affairs under Bruno definitively recognised by the in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Mendiguren. At that time, the International Organisations. Alicante. Government acted "as an independent and sovereign power". Six decades on, local and These were the historic beginnings of international problems are totally the foreign relations maintained by When the Government went into exile, different. But the trends towards this first Basque Government in the it is clear that a great part of its internationalisation and globalisation war era. In the reference to its activity targeted foreign affairs, mean that public and private activities, collected in the Report "The simply because it could not deal with institutions should coparticipate in Foreign Action of the Basque Country domestic issues.The collaboration the common destiny, while solving 1980-2003"*,mention is made, with the Allies throughout the Second problems arising at local level at the among others, to contacts with the World War to fight the forces of the same time. Diplomatic Corps, particularly of the Axis was one of the essential parts of United Kingdom, France, the USSR, the foreign activity of the Basque This is the perspective from which the the Vatican, the United States and Government. After the Second World current Basque Government has Argentina; negotiations between the War,the Basque Government in exile decided to back a foreign affairs Basque Government and the Spanish played a major role in the process of strategy - officially approved by the Francoist Government for the building Europe. This action was Cabinet of Ministers last March -, exchange of prisoners; relations with mainly led by the Lehendakari and which addresses, among other governments, and more specifically Javier de Landaburu. elements, the opening of Centres with regard to the sending of reports outside Euskadi, defining priority to European and American cabinets; In 1945, the Lehendakari Aguirre geographical areas of activity. the acquisition of products for made an unofficial visit to the supplies, international airlines and the Conference of San Francisco to In these pages we would like to creation of companies in other prevent Francoist Spain from joining explain what this strategy consists of countries; control of maritime the United Nations. Similarly, on May in greater detail, and the role played borders, migration services; asylum by 21, 1946, accompanied by Jesús by the current Basque Government the Basque Centres in the Spanish Galíndez and Antón de Irala, he held Centres abroad.

*By CASTRO RUANO J. L. and UGALDE ZUBIRI, A. "The Foreign Action of the Basque Country (1980-2003)". IVAP.Basque Government. 2004.

4 Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

MIKEL BURZAKO Basque Director of Foreign Relations

«Foreign Action will promote the Official Centres of the Basque Government»

Eusko Jaurlaritzak, 2002an, Kanpoko Harre- In 2002, the Basque Government created the Directorate manetarako Idazkaritza Nagusiaren barnean for Foreign Relations, within the General Secretariat of Kanpo Harremanetarako Zuzendaritza sortu Foreign Action, led from the outset by Mikel Burzako. This young graduate in Economics and Business zuen. Hasieratik Mikel Burzakok eramaten du. Administration, highly skilled in the different realities of Jada, duela ia hogei urte Bruselan ireki ze- other countries thanks to first-hand experience through nean Euskadiko Ordezkaritza, Europak Eu- the posts he has held as general manager of the Basque- skadin izango zuen eragina garrantzi hand- Chilean Foundation for Development in Santiago de Chile ikoa zela ikusten zen. Gaur egun Bruselako and as director of Cooperation for Development, analyses Ordezkaritzan, batez ere, europear gaiak the lines of action established abroad by the Basque lantzen dira, baina gure taldeka beste helburu Administration. bat du, adibidez, Latino Amerikan Ordezkar- itzak sortzea oso funtzeskoa dugu, eta Long before the creation of this Secretariat, the bultzatzen ari garen ekintzak oso biziak eta Basque Government had opened its Official Centre in Brussels. What was the process of that pioneering era askotakoak dira. Burzazok gogorarazten experience like? digu, Agirre Lehendakariaren garaiko Eu- We were the first to open a Centre in this city to make skadiko Ordezkarien proiekzioa zoragarria sure that relations between Euskadi and the European izan zela, eta gaur egun eredutzat dute, baina, community institutions would run more smoothly. At that noski, egungo beharrei erantzuna ematen. time, the Basque Government had clearly realised the

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 5 EUSKAL ORDEZKARITZA MUNDUAN

Meeting with representatives from the Senegal Embassy.

importance of Europe in the future of Euskadi. After eight and we would like to somehow tell them that we are years of hard bargaining with the Madrid Government, here to try to foster closer relations with these countries. the last sentence was favourable to what we had always asked for, and we set up the Euskadi Centre in Brussels. How can this commitment be reinforced? Next year we will be celebrating its twentieth anniversary. In the latest legislature we took a transcendental Currently, the Directorate for European Affairs, within political decision: the extension of Euskadi Centres to the General Secretariat of Foreign Action and this Centre other non-community areas. In the first phase, which establishes Euskadi’s relations with Europe. we are now completing, we decided to open Centres in But the role of this Secretariat in Europe does not Latin America, in countries where historical relations end here.There is another level of activities that is are more important, or where there are large groups of managed permanently with regard to cross border and Basques, such as Mexico, Chile, Argentina and interregional affairs. Euskadi has historically maintained Venezuela. And once again we were the first to establish good relations with a series of regions, particularly those Official Centres. with greater power of decision in their respective states, as well as with those we are bound to more emotionally, Do all the Centres do the same work? such as Iparralde and Navarra. From the Government’s internal standpoint we are cre- ating jurisprudence, in the sense that we are learning What role does the Secretariat play in the Basque internally, since there was no model on how to set up Communities, which are so numerous and scattered this type of apparatus in Latin America. The Brussels all over the world? Centre has been a reference in some regards, although As a Government, since this Secretariat came into being, not in others, because they are different realities that we have been particularly sensitive towards Basque require different structures, and because each one has Communities abroad. Relations are established through a specific profile. The Brussels Centre has a more com- the Euskal Etxeak on the one hand, albeit also with munity-driven, normative sphere of action, and our Basque Communities that are not grouped within these team there has a different profile. On the other hand, centres. We take great care of this line of action, the Latin America Centres feature other components, adapting to the current circumstances derived from the such as programmes with our communities, cooperation fact that these Basques are children or grandchildren for development; they also play the role of institutional of emigrants, and taking into account the reality of relations in the country and provide support to certain Euskadi and the type of demands, which are not what sectors, such as industry, agriculture and fisheries or they were twenty years ago. There are Basque culture. Communities in places as close as Valladolid, Andorra, Barcelona, Madrid and other countries in Europe, but Finally, the Madrid Centre, officially opened in January basically they are in America. We realise that a large 2003, has a rather intermediate profile: it establishes part of the history of the Basque people is abroad.There relationships with the other Autonomous Communities, are many Basques that have contributed to the with embassies, with community and supranational development of these countries, and who are still there, institutions, the mass media, it develops cultural activities

6 CURRENT EVENTS Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

and acts as a hinge between the different departments of the Basque Government and the Ministries of the Spanish Government. 70 years on Was the economic-industrial factor decisive when choosing these four countries? Obviously,before taking a decision as to where we open a Centre we study different variables,and the economic-in- dustrial variable is one of the most important,although it is not the only one.Naturally in the case of Venezuela,pe- culiarities other than the purely economic-industrial as- pect brought a major influence to bear.If we had only ad- dressed this aspect then it would have made more sense to open a Centre in Brazil rather than Argentina. But we must take into account other factors such as the culture or the roots of the Basque Communities,historical relations, or those established more recently with the institutions of these countries,which were decisive in the choice of these four countries. Aguirre, together with the French politician Robert It is also true that the initial economic-industrial-type Schuman, one of the founding fathers of modern Europe. Berlin, March 23, 1956. relations established with some countries permit the Department of Industry to open foreign offices of SPRI (Industrial Promotion Company), and if this type of Mikel Burzako would be satisfied if relation begins to develop with regard to other interests Euskadi achieved half of the foreign over time, they may lead us to open Centres. projection that the government of the Lehendakari Aguirre enjoyed. He proudly How would you assess this phase of foreign action states that that model is the reference, focused on Latin America? one which 70 years later, adapted to our It is too soon to make assessments, but we may say that current reality, is serving as a we are making a very important qualitative leap in terms philosophical guide to the current of Centres in Latin America. Once these four Centres have General Secretariat of Foreign Action. been consolidated, the Latin America phase will have been "The Basque Government –he comments– covered and the programmes that we are planning through has never surpassed the importance that them can be rolled out. it enjoyed abroad in 1936. Two Centres were opened in exile in the United Do you intend to extend the Official Centres in the States, twelve in Latin America, four in near future? Spain and another four in Europe. The The strategic document, approved by the Cabinet of Government of the Lehendakari Aguirre Ministers on March 15, which defines the Foreign Ac- was fundamental in the building of tion road map for the next decade, establishes the Europe and established totally privileged terms of future activities. In this regard, one of the relations with multilateral organisations, lines proposed is the development of Centres in Europe such as the UNO. If we were able to as a second sphere of activities. We have defined the reorganise that design of actions, in preferred countries: Germany, Great Britain and which practically everything the Basque France, initially. At the same time we will be intensify- Government did was geared towards ing relations with other European countries such as the Foreign Action, it would have been a Nordic nations, Italy and the Eastern countries. major achievement. Some might think that working with a model designed 70 All these projects are contained in the strategic years ago may not bring anything new, document, which heralds a before and an after in terms but this is not true. It is one of our main of the activities of the General Secretariat of Foreign models, which breathes a special Action, since it is the first time that we will be integrating sensitivity for foreign action, and which, all the Departments of the Government in Foreign Action applied to the current Basque reality, is and because it is also the first time that following a deep still undoubtedly one of the best guides strategic deliberation we have a "road map" that we could have. establishes the principles of our long-term action for the next two or three legislatures.

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 7 EUSKAL ORDEZKARITZA MUNDUAN

José Antonio de Aguirre, accompanied by Antón Irala (Delegate of the Basque Government in New York) and Jesús de Galíndez, present a report on the repression by Franco’s government in Euskadi to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Trygve Lie. That same day, May 22, 1946, Aguirre also handed over a twelve-page document in the name of the Government of the Republic, whose preliminary project had been drafted in the Basque Centre in New York.

The foreign action of the Basque Government

[ALEXANDER UGALDE ZUBIRI] Teacher of International Relations (UPV/EHU)

n of the policies of the Basque Government Departments develop international activities in their own consists of increasing its participation in areas.The Interdepartmental Commission of Foreign Ointernational relations. It is a practice similar Action complements coordination. to that of other Non-Central Governmental actors or non-Central Governments (Federal states, regions, The work conducted hitherto will bring a qualitative leap Lander…) which develop a foreign policy to achieve an as the plan envisaged in the Foreign Action Strategy of international presence, for different reasons: functional the Autonomous Community of Euskadi, approved by the (international projection), economic (insertion in the Cabinet of Ministers (March 2005) gradually comes to world economy and markets, adaptation to the new fruition. It defines the objectives and lines of action; it technologies), political (national identity, own language provides for the adaptation of structures and resources and culture), or through the convergence of all of them. and establishes the specific foreign and sector policies.

The organ for its planning and coordination is the Foreign Action is embodied in the following activities: General Secretariat of Foreign Action, framed within the Office of the President. Managed by the Secretary Trips, visits received and promotional activities: An General for Foreign Action, it is comprised of the ensemble of jobs on which the rest are based, since Commissioner of the Office of the President for Foreign knowing one other is basic for collaboration.Through Relations, the Directorate for Foreign Relations, the them, the Government consolidates relations with Central Directorate for European Affairs and the Directorate of and Non-Central Governments, International Relations with Basque Communities.The Centres are Organisations and other organisations; it promotes attached to this Secretariat.The other governmental economic and commercial capacities and projects its

8 CURRENT EVENTS Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

powers in different spheres. This is aided by the Worldwide networks of Non-Central Governments: international links of autonomous organisations and Association-forming is also articulated between public companies (SPRI, IHOBE, EVE…). territories of several continents.The Basque Country is part of the Network of Regional Government for Foreign centres: Presence in other countries has been Sustainable Development (nrg4SD), Forum of Solidary consolidated with the centres in Brussels, Mexico, Chile Regional Governments (FGRS) and Network of Local and Argentina, and the one scheduled in Venezuela. In Authorities for the Information Society (IT4ALL).The the medium term, other centres will be opened in latter participates in the World Summits on the Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States Information Society organised by the United Nations. and Canada. Moreover, the SPRI has a network of Financial contributions are made to the Digital Solidarity Standing Offices in ten countries and a network of local Fund (FSD). agents in other points. Attention to Basque communities abroad: One priority Foreign agreements: Signing agreements with foreign or- is to maintain contacts with the communities, euskal ganisations makes it possible to formalise cooperation in etxeak and federations. A key component is the Law on questions of mutual interest.The instruments are sub- Relations with Basque Communities and Basque Centres scribed with Non-Central Governments, Central Govern- Abroad and their development in terms of regulations, ments (Chilean,Argentinean,Cuban ministries…),Inter- materialised in the World Congresses of Basque national Organisations (UNESCO, ACNUR, UNITAR…) Communities and Quadrennial Plans of Institutional and other organisations (foundations, universities, Action. Besides the subsidies of aid to the centres for NGOs…).The spheres of collaboration are the economy, infrastructure, equipment and activities, other specific trade, agriculture, fisheries, health, tourism, the environ- programs have been set up for social aid, young people ment, justice, interior,technology,infrastructures, educa- (the Gaztemundu Programme), training, research, tion,culture,etc.One hundred and nine (109) instruments publications, etc. had been subscribed by the end of 2004, to which those closed in 2005 must be added. Cooperation for development with impoverished countries: It is another prominent action sustained by Multilateral interregional cooperation and the formation the Fund for Cooperation and Aid to Development of associations in Europe: These activities are for setting (FOCAD), with a contribution of 0.7% from the annual up exchanges, conducting joint actions and bringing operating budget. It is managed by the Directorate for demands to the attention of European States and Cooperation for Development of the Department of institutions.The most prominent organisation is the Housing and Social Affairs.The aid programmes are Conference of the Regions with Legislative Powers (REG structured in several modalities, with the participation LEG).The Basque Country is a member of the Congress of NGODs and non-profit organisations, which is of Local and Regional Powers of Europe (CPLRE), the complemented with other programmes (Basque Youth Assembly of the Regions of Europe (ARE), the Voluntary Workers, grants for voluntary workers and Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions professionals…). Its approach will improve when the (CRPM), Association of European Border Regions Basque Parliament adopts the Law of Cooperation for (ARFE) and European Multisectoral Association for Co- Development. operation and Development of Mountain Territories (Euromontana), amongst others. Participation in the European Union: By geographical location, context, incidence in matters of autonomous Cross border cooperation: Conducted with adjacent competence in community legislation, etc., it is essential territories attempting to overcome state borders, which to guarantee, and if possible increase, the channels for makes it possible to increase relations between the real participation in the EU. They are: multilateral historic Basque territories of Euskal Herria belonging agreements through the Conference for Affairs Related to different States. It is a bilateral cooperation between with the European Communities (CARCE); Bilateral Aquitaine-Euskadi, through agreements and programmes Commission of Cooperation Administration of the State- to promote economic, social and cultural exchanges, to Administration of the Autonomous Community of the develop projects and promote links between Basque Country for Affairs Related with the European organisations. In the multilateral plane, there is the Communities; presence in the Committee of the Regions Working Community of the Pyrenees (CTP) with (CdR); appointment of experts to the Consultative Navarra, Aragon, Catalonia, Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées, Committees of the European Commission; and the Languedoc-Roussillon and Andorra, collaborating in the incorporation of an autonomous minister in matters of economic, social, tourist, cultural areas and in their competence into the Spanish delegation at the infrastructure questions. meetings of some formations of the Council of the EU.

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 9 EUSKAL ORDEZKARITZA MUNDUAN

Brussels: in the heart of the European Union

BASQUE COUNTRY CENTRE IN BRUSSELS he main activity of the Centre in Brussels concerns Rue des Deux Églises / Tweekerkenstraat 27 actions before the Belgian State and the BRUXELLES 1000 BRUSSEL, BELGIË – BELGIQUE Tinstitutions of the European Union, including the T : + 32.2.285.45.10 monitoring of the decision-making process with regard F : + 32.2.285.45.11 to the legislative initiatives of the EU affecting the e-mail : [email protected] statutory competences and other website : www.euskadi.net interests of the Basque Autonomous Community. The eleven experts and scholarship «Bruselatik gure holders of the Centre work to interes identify topics, obtain information and prepare specific sozioekonomiko, reports with the information sektorial eta generated by the community institutions or their organs.The profesionalak socioeconomic, sectorial and defendatzen dira» professional interests of the BAC Ibon Mendibelzua, Basque Contry delegate in Brussels with are also defended to the extent Mikel Antón, Director of European Affairs. that community initiatives impact these interests. The Centre also offers infrastructure to set up meetings or interviews between the socioeconomic partners and the Basque autonomous authorities with the institutions and organ of the EU, and generally speaking liaising and contacts between the Basque public institutions and the community administrations derived from the presentation of projects, participation in community programmes, participation in calls for proposals, etcetera. Another task carried out by the Centre is technical assistance, as a logistics centre to support the public and private organisations of the Basque Autonomous Community with a view to acting at community level, together with information, training and dissemination of community issues through conferences, colloquia, seminars, courses or periodic publications. Last but not least, the Centre also works in the promotion of the Basque Autonomous Community abroad, as well as collaborating fluently and continuously with other offices of European regional organisations such as the Länder, Regions, Communities, counties, Municipalities and cities established in the capital of Europe. Moreover,it also maintains a close relation with the Basques resident in Brussels, in Belgium or its area of influence, Benelux, and fluid professional contact with individuals who, in the different structures of the institutions and organs of the UE, always provide the best support in approaching these echelons before which the Autonomous Community is represented, and viceversa; also included are other calls to conferences offered by high-ranking Basque authorities on their specific topics.

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Mexico: the first official representation opened in Latin America he Euskadi Centre in Mexico was officially opened in BASQUE COUNTRY CENTRE IN MEXICO October 2003 by the Lehendakari Ibarretxe. It is the Horacio No. 1213 Tfirst Office of Official Representation opened in Latin Col. Polanco, 11550 America within the expansion strategy implemented by the México D.F. General Secretariat of Foreign Action of the Basque Tels. (52-55) 52541552 Government. Fax (52-55) 55315172 The Centre is the fruit of several years of relations between Mexico and Euskadi, which date back to 1993 and the creation of the Basque-Mexican Institute of «Herrialde honek Latinoamerikan Development. This Institute was created as a Civil Association by Basque residents in Mexico, with the support irekitako lehenengo ordezkari ofizial of the Basque Government, and its objective was to open irekiari abegi egin zion. Ibarretxe up new possibilities of cooperation and development between both countries. Lehendakariak inauguratu zuen» The Centre is an organ of representation of the Autonomous Community of Euskadi in matters of Relations with Basque Communities, Cooperation for Development and Defence and the Promotion of Multi-Sectorial Interests participation in the most relevant areas of common interest in the sphere of competences that fall to the Autonomous by means of interinstitutional cooperation, the exchange of Community of Euskadi. experts, contributions by Basques to current issues in In terms of the Basque community, the Centre’s Mexico, dissemination of the reality of Euskadi and dealings objective is to protect and defend the rights of Basque with embassies and multilateral organisations. citizens abroad in the legal, occupational and health areas, As for culture, support is provided to the Basque Centre as well as social aid and the new Diaspora. Although powers of Mexico in the annual organisation of a Basque culture correspond to the Spanish State, the Centre provides week, as well as the presence of the Basque Channel in information to any Basque on request on topics ranging Mexico, acting as a link between programming proposals from legal, occupational and health of the Diaspora and ETB. areas to social aid and the new It also collaborates with the Diaspora. University through academic exchanges In the institutional section, the (agreements between universities) in Centre strives to secure an active order to disseminate the Basque political, economic and administrative reality in the main universities of Mexico. Moreover, it promotes the creation of Basque language and culture courses in collaboration with HABE and the Department of Culture of the Basque Government. With regard to tourism, it collaborates with the International Tourist Promotion Area of SPRI to promote Euskadi as a tourist destination for the Mexicans.With this objective in mind it participated in the World Exotic Fair held in Monterrey between November 27 and 30 this year, and provides wholesalers, tour- operators and travel agencies in Mexico with updated information on Euskadi. In the realm of economic and business interests, the Centre develops all the aids provided by the Department of Industry to foster the internationalisation of Basque companies, and constant contact is maintained with Basque companies already established in Mexico in order to provide them with a better service.

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 11 EUSKAL ORDEZKARITZA MUNDUAN

Chile: different activities in different areas

he opening of the Centre in Chile, in June 2004, DELEGACION DE EUSKADI EN CHILE arose from a latent need for relations between C/ APOQUINDO 3669, OFICINA 802 Tboth countries and with the Basque Diaspora. Its LAS CONDES - SANTIAGO DE CHILE inauguration featured the presence of the Vice- TEL. NO.: 56 2 206 40 48 / 206 34 64 lehendakari Idoia Zenarruzabeitia e-mail: [email protected] Currently, this Centre operates in the institutional arena, cooperation for development, commerce-business, culture and relations with the Diaspora. In the institutional area, memoranda of understanding have been signed with the Ministry of Economy, Agriculture, Health and Planning and Development. One example of the intensity of this bilateral cooperation was the holding of the 1st Mixed Euskadi–Chile Commission last October. With the Ministries, the Centre was the forerunner of the different Memoranda of Understanding, and today its function focuses on the design and development of the different programmes that afford these agreements contents. The objective is to continue to promote this bilateral cooperation by developing, on the one hand, the memoranda already signed and on the other by exploring other areas of collaboration, such as vocational training and the new technologies. Moreover, in view of the development of Chile, lines of triangular Euskadi–Chile-third country cooperation are being studied. Currently, the function of the Centre is fundamental for providing assessment to organisations that need to set up a program of cooperation and aid to development, with a large number of queries , and distributing the Decrees that regulate the funds. In the commercial-business arena, the Centre performs a twofold function: to guide and support the business missions that visit the country, provide support to the internationalisation of companies and aid their implementation in the country (at the moment there are 28 Basque companies in Chile between sellers and manufacturers), as well as represent the interests of «Ordezkaritza honetan, erakunde the BEC in Chile, being the catalyst for groups of companies that visit Euskadi, with the business and arloko eginkizunak eskaintzen dira: institutional promotion that this produces. Similarly, support is being provided to the constitution of an garapen kooperazioa, komertzial- association of entrepreneurs of Basque origin, Emprebask. enpresariala kulturala, eta baita Jointly with other Basque Institutions in Chile, the Centre is the driving force boosting cultural actions diasporarekin harremanak ere» within the Basque setting; its contribution is indispensable in the definition of cultural exhibitions, shows or activities: local partners are sourced to stage

12 CURRENT EVENTS Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

The new Head Offices of the Basque Government in Argentina are located in Port Wood (Buenos Aires). On the left, Marieli Díaz de Mendibil Gómez de Segura.

Koldo Atxutegi the event, in order to gain structure, impact in the media and greatly reduce the costs that any cultural event involves. A clear example of this Argentina: activity is the Basque Cinema Exhibition (three editions to date), as well as other different exhibitions. Marieli Díaz de Mendibil, One very relevant fact, thanks to the collaboration of the Centre and the Department of Culture, has been the achievement of providing newly appointed Delegate Basque Language and Culture courses to some 140 learners in four Chilean universities. he appointment of Marieli Díaz de Mendibil Gómez de Segura as Delegate of the Basque Government in Relations with the Diaspora TArgentina last September heralded the start-up of the Basque Centre in that country one month later. Until the In Chile there are two recognised Basque Centres Centre becomes fully operational, she will be performing her and a great amount of people who feel Basque, functions at the Head Offices of the Basque-Argentinean whereby the Centre’s role with the Diaspora is Institute of Cooperation and Development (IVACD) located basic. in the City of Buenos Aires." On the one hand it covers the dissemination Hailing from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Marieli Díaz de Mendibil of the Basque Government’s aid programmes for was elected deputy member to the Juntas Generales de cases of extreme need, as well as for training. At Araba, and later became a City Councillor in Vitoria-Gasteiz. the same time, and jointly with the Basque In 2003, she was appointed Director of Consumer Affairs of Centres, cultural activities and institutional visits the Department of Industry,Trade and Tourism, a post she are promoted. held until her current appointment to the Cabinet of Ministers This Institution also keeps the Basque at the proposal of the Lehendakari Ibarretxe. community up to date on news and events by The National Basque Week held in Necoechea was the means of bulletins or circulars from Euskadi, as first official meeting of the Delegate and Argentinean well as on the different activities staged in Chile. Basques.

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 13 EUSKAL ORDEZKARITZA MUNDUAN

Madrid: the representation of the Government before the State institutions

he Centre of the Basque Government in Madrid DELEGACIÓN DE EUSKADI EN MADRID was created in January 2003 and its main CEDACEROS 10 - 6.A Tobjective is the institutional representation of the 28014 - MADRID Basque Government in Madrid and the dissemination of TEL. NO.: 91 360 06 12 / 91 360 02 02 the Basque reality in this capital city. DELEGATE: PEIO CABALLERO LASQUIBAR Generally speaking the Centre is not a decision- [email protected] making organisation. On the contrary, it acts as another political echelon for relations with the different decision- making and opinion centres. Therefore, and basically speaking, its main characteristic is its activity as an intermediation centre in Madrid. Thus, it has the following policy of the European Union characteristics: and the foreign policy of the It is a political and social State in matters affecting the information centre of Euskadi interests of the Basque that acts vis-à-vis the State Country. Similarly, the Centre overall and any public and supports the Basque private, foreign or community Government in developing its institutions represented in the functions vis-à-vis the central capital of Spain. Administration, preparing, It is an observatory of the supporting and monitoring the Spanish political reality, both of activities required of it by the present and possible future different Departments and trends. acting as a link with the It is a centre for the different Ministries. dissemination of the everyday Another of its tasks facts and events of the Basque Peio Caballero Lasquibar consists of ensuring that the Government and which happen in different embassies make official Euskadi. visits to the Basque Country.To These signs of identity are «Ordezkaritzak Estatuaren do so, it deals with everything embodied in the development of related to their commercial and different functions and activities. beste erakundeekin industrial missions, which it The Centre maintains regular kontaktuak, programatuak schedules and coordinates. In this and scheduled contacts with the regard, it surveys the areas of different institutions of the State, eta aldirokoak, izaten ditu» common commercial or the political parties with industrial interest or for Parliamentary representation, as cooperation to enable the well as with the different Government to promote meetings embassies accredited in Madrid. In this same sphere of between the sectors in question. activity, it liaises with the state and foreign mass media Part of this activity includes the writing of different at editorial and "opinion creating", or columnist, level. reports on the economic and industrial reality of the It monitors all Parliamentary activity in Congress Basque Country which are sent to the different and in the Senate both with regard to plenaries, economic attaches of the Embassies and foreign press basically those pertaining to the control of the accredited in Madrid. Government, as well as the different parliamentary Attendance at the different cultural activities in commissions, drafting weekly reports which are Madrid with a political basis, basically in the different forwarded to the Government of Vitoria-Gasteiz. opinion forums, is another of the areas regarded as This Centre also attends to the development of the being of interest by this centre.

14 CURRENT EVENTS Issue 71. Year 2005 Basque Centres in the world

ome research work one day decided to emigrate or indicates that the first were obliged to do so. It has often SEuskal Etxea was founded been said that one of the traits of in Montevideo at the end of the the Basque is their individualism. 19th Century, and that the However, the history of Basque Laurak of Buenos Aires the emigration shows quite the second. opposite: meetings in inns, hotels A recent publication by a and guest houses gave rise, in a Cuban teacher informs of a second phase, to the creation of previous one, albeit only a few associations at their own or rented years earlier,founded in Havana. venues, maintaining relations with In any event, in the three cases the institutions of their native we are talking about a specific country and disseminating Basque decade: the decade of the 70s of [JOSU LEGARRETA] culture. the 19th Century. In this regard, and despite It was the great Basque-Peruvian journalist Paco being apolitical institutions, according to their statutes, Igartua who provided new data in this regard at the the Euskal Etxeak have always evinced, one way or Congress of Basque Communities held in Vitoria- Gasteiz another, and from frequently different ideological in 1995, expounding the text of the Articles of perspectives, their interest in the political situation of Association of the "Ilustre Hermandad Vascongada de their People.Their very names are proof of this: at the Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu" set up in Lima in 1612 by end of the 19th Century, before Basque nationalism, the a group of Basques with the aim of mutual aid, according name "laurak bat" was a reference to a foralista to its own articles of association: "Insomuch as the (autonomous) conception of the Basque Country. As of Congregation founded by the knights that reside in this the first decade of the 19th Century, the founding City of the Kings of Peru hailing Biscay and the Province partners agreed to baptise their institutions with names of Guipuzkoa, and descending from them, and the with a broader geographic and ideological significance, naturals of the province of Alava, Kingdom of such as "Zazpirak Bat", "Euskal Erria", "Denak Bat", Navarra….". And it continues: "…it is hereby ordered, "Danak Anaiak", "Euzko Etxea", etc. to honour this Congregation, that anyone received in it For the Basque Government in exile, led by the hail from the aforementioned parts and places... to carry Lehendakari Aguirre, and after his death by the out work of mutual aid between each other and with Lehendakari Jesús María Leizaola, they were true those of their nation". instruments of foreign action, both in political, cultural One century later, a new association was created in and economic aspects. Perhaps these relations fell away Mexico with the same objective, building the great somewhat between 1975 and 1980, when the Basque Basque School for the education of girls from families political institutions focused mainly on the restoration of limited means.This school is still working very well of the democratic system. In 1982, an important to this day as an educational centre. Even today, it is an congress of Basque Centres was held in Donostia, and institution of great prestige, and is the only one that has since then others have been held, some in Argentina, in been respected by all the Mexican governments. the cities of Bahia Blanca and Necochea, and others in At the end of the 19th Century the Basque Euskadi in 1995, 1999 and 2003. association-forming movement spread to Cuba, Uruguay Another important reference of these Basque and Argentina, under a common name: LAURAK BAT Government/Basque Centres relations are the trips made (four in one). annually to the Basque Centres by the Lehendakari, the Subsequently, as of the first decade of the 19th Vice-lehendakari and/or some Ministers. Century, and particularly as of the Spanish Civil War These relations are regulated by Law /8/1994, of 27 (1936-1939), there was greater intercommunication May, with a reference both to "Basque Communities" and between the Basque Country and its emigrants thanks to "Basque Centres". We now have 153 Euskal Etxeak to the thousands of Basques that were welcomed in recognised by the Basque Government and located in 20 different countries in Europe and America. Consequently, countries: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the number of Basque Centres increased Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Spain, the United States, From the philosophical standpoint, there can be no France, Italy, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the doubt that the Basque Centres are historic examples of United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and the association-forming movement among Basques who Venezuela.

Issue 71. Year 2005 GAURKO GAIAK 15 AURRERA DOAN HERRIA

II World Summit in Bilbao

From left to right, Akiko Miyahara (representative of UNITAR); Elisabeth Gateau (secretary general of CGLU); José Ignacio Zudaire (Vice-minister of Industry of the Basque Government); Ana Agirre (Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism); Joseph Sarr (coordinator of the Summit of Bilbao in Africa); and Karmelo Sainz De la Maza (chairman of Eudel).

Eusko Jaurlaritzak antolatuta, Bilboko Goi-bileran. ONUren babespean, Euskalduna Jauregian, Azaroaren 9, ospatu ziren jardunaldi hauetan, 10 eta 11an, bi mila aginte baino "brecha digital" diotena eta txiroen gehiago bildu ziren II. Hirien eta eta aberatsen arteko diferenziak Agintari lokalen Informazioaren gutxitzeko Ekintza plana garatzeko Gizarteari buruzko Munduko eta deklarazio politikoa egin dute.

The local authorities seek to make access to the Internet universal

ore than two thousand regional leaders met later at another summit held in Tunisia for the same at the II World Summit of Cities and Local purpose. In it they call for "recognition of the role of the Authorities on the Information Society, local and regional authorities in developing the Msponsored by the UNO and organised with the Information Society" and "the promotion of financial collaboration of the Basque Government, held in the instruments that help to implement these programmes". Palacio Euskalduna de Bilbao between 9 and 11 November to try to reduce the so-called "Digital Gap" that The action plan is materialised in four general principles. separates rich and poor in access to the new technologies. One of the solutions posed by the representatives is to These working days culminated in the approval of a multiply the participation of all institutions and of course political declaration and the development of an action to involve both the developing countries and the plan. industrialised countries. Similarly, they deem it fundamental to establish a nexus between the local and The commitments taken on in Bilbao were forwarded to the global, reinforce popular participation and afford the heads of State of the whole world that met one week priority to actions rather than to institutional development.

16 A COUNTRY ON THE MOVE Issue 71. Year 2005 A COUNTRY ON THE MOVE

The political declaration approved in Bilbao particularly underlines the fact that the development of the Information Society should particularly benefit "the more underprivileged groups, people with disabilities and those who live in the more isolated areas”.

ICT and sustainable development

In this regard priorities are established. At local and regional level they commit to using information and communication technologies (ICT) as an instrument "for sustainable development", to promoting free software and the implementation of local digital agendas, as well as to promoting collaboration between Ana Agirre, with Viviane Reding, European commissioner for The Information the local and regional authorities, something that could Society. be done with the IT4ALL structure, the World Association comprised of 2,000 regions and cities. Bertako aginteek Although the meeting reached a high degree of consensus and made it possible to "listen to the voice Interneterako sarbidea of the local authorities", according to the subsecretary Munduko mailakoa general of the UNO and the CEO of Unitar, Marcel Boisard, there are still discrepancies between the izatea nahi dute. representatives of the developed world and the underprivileged countries as to who will control the Internet. Microsoft, which has already announced two 2,000- Yoshio Utsumi, secretary of the International million-dollar initiatives in five years to reduce the Telecommunication Union (ITU) and of the World digital gap and to bring the poorer countries on line in Summit on Information (CSMI) of Tunisia, provided cooperation with the United Nations Development some data that reflect the inequality of opportunities Programme. for all the inhabitants of the planet in the 21st Century: 800,000 towns or villages in the world do not have a Ángel Ros, chairman of the Commission of New telephone and one thousand million people do not have Technologies of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities access to the Internet; 80% of Internet users live in and Provinces (FEMP) and mayor of the city of Lleida developed countries and a further 20% may consider (Catalonia) went even further and referred to the themselves lucky to be able to use the benefits of the possibilities of the new technologies "being regarded as Information Society when people around them barely a public utility, just like water and light". have enough to eat. The UNO’s stance of engaging regional governments and Utsumi drew attention to the importance of the making them responsible in the fight to achieve the so- International Solidarity Fund, created in March to take called "digital democracy" was made clear from the computing to everyone, with the participation of 17 beginning of the Summit, when a video was shown with governments in order to support businesses initiatives declarations by its secretary general Koffi Annan. In it that develop new technologies.The money of the Fund he declared that the information technologies are is allocated to financial projects of the IT4ALL fundamental tools for developing the objectives of the network, such as the one developed in Mauritania, where millennium. He recognised that there is still a gap in they have deployed a "teleconsultation" and access to them between the rich and poor countries but "telediagnosis" plan to prevent people from having to also inside countries, in rural areas, "which is where the travel long distances to see a doctor.In this country, the local authorities take on an important role.They must children of marginalised districts have learnt to use. apply their base knowledge to design solutions and promote local business activity". The Internet thanks to a public cyber-centre. The Lehendakari Ibarretxe, who participated in the Initiatives like this one can be rolled out in the so-called opening ceremony of the Summit, also expressed his "third world". In Bilbao, the role that technology promise that the Basque Country "will do its utmost to companies and their R&D departments can play in this prevent information technologies from opening a gap of task was tabled, as was the case of the computing giant exclusion between some countries and others”.

Issue 71. Year 2005 AURRERA DOAN HERRIA 17 Elkarrizketa Interview

MONTXO ARMENDARIZ cinema director OROSTEGI G LI E

Bere laguna den Bernardo Atxagaren eleberriaren zati batzuetan oinarritua "Obaba" pelikulak, Oscar sarietan ingeles ez den hizkuntzako filmen sailean Espainako Estatua ordezkatuko du. Nafar honek ez du lorik galduko berri honengatik, jada 1998an "Secretos del corazon" filmarengatik sari- izendapen bera jaso zuen eta. Nahiz eta bere lehentasunen artean Hollywooden lan egitea ez izan, Armendarizek, "jende gehiagok ikusteko" eta "gure zinematografia ahulari laguntzeko" izango dela dio. «I don’t lose sleep over the Oscars»

His film "Obaba", based on several of the stories by his admits that the nomination will help his film to be seen friend, the writer Bernardo Atxaga, will represent Spain by more people and to "help such a weak cinema in the Oscars in the non-English-speaking films industry as ours". category. The news does not cause this man from Navarra, a veteran in similar experiences, to lose any "Obaba" was premiered at the last Festival de Cine de Hsleep. In 1998 he already gleaned first-hand experience Donostia, although it received no award. Now this in the much sought-after awards when he was a finalist nomination will be the best possible commercial launch, with his "Secrets of the heart", and although he states for film and director alike. "The panels –states that working in Hollywood is not a main priority, he Armendáriz– are like the viewers: some may like a film

18 INTERVIEW Issue 71. Year 2005 Elkarrizketa Interview

ELI GOROSTEGI which others may find terrible. stories being understood by The Academy chose this film a local target, not reaching because in its opinion it is the everyone? one that represents it best, There could be nothing more whereas the jury of San local than a western and Sebastián chose others that everyone understands them. responded to cinema values "Obaba" has been seen abroad, according to its criteria". there were no surprising readings, points of view which A nomination like this takes perhaps a spectator from him to the international Euskadi may not be able to forefront. provide as they are directly Whether he wins the Oscar or involved in the knowledge of not, this nomination will serve this reality. This film talks above all for the film to be about universal things such as seen by a lot more spectators. human behaviour in the face of I also think that it may come loneliness, love, violence, the as a push for such a weak loss of social and cultural cinema industry as ours, and roots, the passing of time and what I personally like most is how it affects people. These that it will allow me to choose questions know no borders, the projects I really care about although the story takes place in the future. In 1998 I had a Armendariz with Bernardo Atxaga. over the last fifty years and is spell in Hollywood with limited to an isolated village. "Secrets of the heart". That experience allowed me to meet In "Tasio", "Secrets of the people from the industry, make heart" and to a lesser degree friends, see how they work... so “ in "Obaba", the main I won’t be losing any sleep «This film talks about universal characters are children: is thinking going back to the things such as human behaviour there an explanation for this Oscars. in the face of loneliness, love, constant return to violence, the loss of social and childhood? "Obaba" is based on the cultural roots, the passing of time The truth is that I don’t know most read work by Bernardo and how it affects people» why there are so many children Atxaga, which won the in my films, in fact I was not Critics’ Award in 1989, and aware of it and I might need to has been translated to see a psychoanalyst to answer twenty languages. Don’t you worry about the this one.The truth is that childhood is a fundamental conversion of such a literary thing into the part of life, and marks us forever.When you are older language of the cinema? you remember the smells, the colours of your childhood When all is said and done, all films are adaptations. very vividly. I keep them here, in my memory, and they Some are easier because they are based on an original remain there even although you have lived in other script that should be translated into images, and others places and in other cultures.They are associated with are rather more complicated, since they are based on our most intense and intimate experiences. In "Obaba", literary works and each reader has their own vision of I wanted to show how people change over time so I took the landscape and of the characters in their head.The a look at the passage from childhood to adulthood. risk involved in making these adaptations for the cinema is that these images that you have transferred to the What was the relationship between Atxaga and you screen are not what the reader has in mind. I really like in this process? wanted to know Bernardo’s ideas and what he thought He gave us his support from the outset. He was very of the film. When I saw him coming out of the session generous as of the moment he read the first version of smiling I heaved a sigh of relief. the script. He was so into the project that he gave us total freedom and told us we could count on him for His films defend what is local and particular. He anything.There was also a great degree of complicity does that in this film, where the action unfolds in between us because we live in a very similar universe, the small town of Obaba. Isn’t there a risk of your we have the same way of feeling and understanding life.

Issue 71. Year 2005 ELKARRIZKETA 19 EUSKADITIK

The delights and shadows of cesta punta The City Council of Gernika has published the book "Historia de la cesta punta" written by Gonzalo Beaskoetxea, Olympic champion in this modality of pelota vasca in the Mexico 68 Games. The book’s 245 pages take us through the almost 150 years of life of this sport which is not going through its best moments, but which has been played in the five continents. Spells of splendour have given way to hard times over this century and a half in which the Jai Alai courts generated a lot of money. Before the arrival of consumerism, China had two courts in Tienshin and in Shanghai.The latter employed a thousand people.The Miami Jai The film «Aupa Etxebeste» Alai had a capacity for 25,000 spectators. Due to different captures the public interest circumstances, including the two World Wars and the government’s The film "Aupa Etxebeste" captures family, totally broke, stay at home interest in controlling betting - the public interest and pretend that they have gone on explains this man from Gernika in The Basque comedy "Aupa their summer holidays. All their his book - cesta punta was limited Etxebeste" by Telmo Esnal and miseries and lies will be patent 24 to the United States. In this Asier Altuna has become one of this hours a day, although thanks to country, according to the author, year’s money spinners in Euskadi. It their sincerity and affection they Al Capone once said that he had is the first film filmed totally in will eventually have the best and bribed judges, senators and Basque since ‘Kareletik’ in 1987. most fun holidays of their life. policemen, but not the pelotaris, Having received an award at the The success of this film has whom he defined as "Basque International Cinema Festival of catapulted its new directors, who saints".The sport peaked between San Sebastián, where it was shown hitherto had worked on minor the 50s and the 80s, with some with an imaginative deployment of productions, into the limelight. Asier fifteen courts in Florida. However, actors and even with a Music Altuna participated in workshops on in 1988 taxes on companies were Group, this satire on vanity won the direction, scripts and production in increased and the pelotaris’ wages Premio de la Juventud and the Caracas, Vitoria, San Sebastián and fell as a result.The players’ union Premio Ibaia awarded by the San Antonio de los Baños (Cuba). called its members out on a strike Association of Independent In 2002 he wrote, directed and that lasted three years, and over Audiovisual Producers of the produced the short film "Topeka", this period those who had been Basque Country as the riskiest which won awards at several loyal to the sport eventually found production over the last twelve festivals.Telmo Esnal has worked as other sports to bet on such as months. a cinema and television technician horse racing, and when the strike Its main actors, Ramón Aguirre, and collaborated with Altuna in the was called off the public simply Elena Irureta and Paco Sagarzazu, script and direction of the shorts did not return. This was the take the spectator to the Etxebeste "Txotx", which won the Premio de beginning of a crisis that also family, which has just been ruined. la Filmoteca Vasca award for the affected Euskadi and which has The comical side of the situation Best Short Film in 1997, and "40 lasted to this day. arises when the members of the ezetz”.

20 CURRENT EVENTS Issue 71. Year 2005 CURRENT EVENTS

get holidays or special leave to attend international commitments that mean spending several days away from home. The Orfeón first performed in America in 1980. It was in the Robin Hood Theatre of the West of Philadelphia with Green’s Requiem, conducted by Rafael Frühbeck of Burgos with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and in the Ground of the Capitol of Washington with the same maestro, the National Symphony, where it performed "A Double performance by the Midsummer Night’s Dream" by Mendelssohn and "Carmina Burana" by Carl Orff.The second occasion was in Orfeón Donostiarra in Caracas 2003, when the choir went to Mexico to The Orfeón Donostiarra will travel to as one of the best in Europe, and with perform in the Nezahualcoyotl of the Caracas next January to offer two more than a century of experience - will Mexican capital and in the festival of the concerts conducted by Claudio Abbado cross the Atlantic to perform in the city of Morelia. with the Orquesta Simón Bolívar.The American continent.The reason for their Moreover, this third trip to America Teatro Teresa Carreño of the capital of not travelling outside Europe is because coincides with the release of the "Latino" Venezuela will be the scenario where both the Orfeón is an amateur choir, i.e., its disc which the choir has recorded with musical groups will perform Beethoven’s members do not make a living from the Symphony Orchestra of Euskadi on Ninth on the 14th and 15th.This will be music but rather from their respective songs from the 40s that became very the third time that the choir - regarded professions and it is difficult for them to popular on the other side of the Atlantic

that has nothing to do with the Lurdes Arrechea, landscapes and portraits painted some five years ago. Her latest work is made playing with looks from recyclable objects because what she likes most is "experimenting with and recycled materials. I reuse pieces of wood from materials the boxes that have carried cod from Norway to Mexico or sheets from Five years ago, the Mexican painter drums and I love to transform things Lurdes Arrechea Indart decided to that have been abandoned into art". exhibit her work in the valley of Culture advisor to the Bank of Baztán, where her parents are from, Mexico, she has been coordinating the and last summer she repeated the cultural area in the Basque Centre of experience with an exhibition in Mexico for five years now, where she Elizondo and another in Pamplona has organised numerous exhibitions and were she showcased her latest ideas gives wood engraving courses. Lurdes based on the human look and Arrechea has managed to earn a living expressions, playing with different from painting thanks to portraits recyclable materials. Married to a commissioned to her,although even so native of Baztán, her father was born she admits that sometimes her husband in Elbetea and her mother in Mexico, has to pay the bills when she cannot although she also descended from from the Universidad Iberoamericana, make ends meet. "The truth is that I people from Baztán, and her she studied plastic arts in the National never bet on a sure-fire winner,and I relationship with this valley goes back School of Mexico, becoming familiar would rather experiment than sell to her childhood, and her childhood with different techniques and styles, paintings that I do not feel, even though memories are closely bound to the and learnt the trade in the workshops what I do is less commercial". For the freedom of those summers when she of artists and delved into the secrets of moment she is obsessed with capturing would swim in the river, play in the figurative expressionism. In Baztán she expressions and looks: "It is a fixation, street and ride her bike, which she was remembered for her water colour and I don’t know if there is a could not do in Mexico City. phase, although this time she has psychiatric explanation, but I would A Graduate in the History of Art surprised her followers with something rather not know”.

Issue 71. Year 2005 EUSKADITIK 21 EUSKAL GAZTEAK MUNDUAN

JAVIER BILBAO Administrativo

Venezuela jaioterrian "el vasco" deitzen zioten eta, hemen, orain hiru urtetik dagoen arren, Donostian, ea kanarioa, andaluza, edo, modu despektibo batean, "sudaca" den galdetzen diote. Txikitatik bi herritartasun mantentzen dituen Javierri, beti atzerritarra sentitzeak, bere arbasoen kultura ezagutzeko grina eta bere erroei burizko jakinmina pizteko balio izan dio.

on in Euskadi as any Basque".This barrier, explains Javier, is disappointing or even hurts when you A Basque from Venezuela are looking for a job or a flat to rent. "When they hear my accent they In his native Venezuela, he was "the numerous and used to meet on the usually say they will have nothing to Basque", and in Donostia, where he shooting range where my father do with "sudacas".The situation is has lived for three years now, some worked as a concierge. Here they rather ironic, particularly because in Ipeople ask him if he is from the went hunting and fishing, his favourite Venezuela he was "the Basque". Over Canary Islands, Andalusia, or in the pastimes, and this is where the idea there, this adjective was used worst case, he is dismissed as a of creating a Euskal Etxea took positively: "Basques have always been "sudaca" (pejorative word for South shape. It started with a small dance associated with honesty, it was a American). For Javier, who has dual group and we eventually adapted to synonym of hardworking people. 80% nationality, feeling foreign since he the culture of our parents. We used to of them prospered because they was small led him to take an interest play at pala every day after school"”. worked hard, they fought hard, they in his roots and the culture of his His parents never lost contact forged a future for themselves and ancestors. with Ondarroa or Euskadi, which they also pre-empted the type of economic "The history of the emigration of his have visited several times.These visits situation that Venezuela is being hit family goes back to the fifties, in the helped Javier to get to know the by now". post-war period. "My father and Basque Country better,which he had The two vocational training mother –recalls Javier– decided to go "rather idealised" from what he had courses he has done in Donostia in to Venezuela when they were single, been told. This is why he did not Administration and Finances have although each one did so separately encounter any major surprises three helped him to complete his academic because they didn’t know each other, years ago when he decided to apply training, but the work experience he although they were both from for a grant on the Euskal Herrirantz had in an automobile company did Ondarroa. They met in the Basque programme sponsored by the Basque not lead to a job in administration, so Centre of Caracas and it was love at Government. "Obviously there is a he had had to turn to hotel and first sight: they were engaged within change of culture and people are also catering: "They prefer women, so I weeks and married within six different. I came from the Caribbean have been working as a waiter for a months". The couple had four - where we are warmer - and here the year and two months now, I had children. First came Miren Guruzne, people are very reserved, although at worked as a waiter for four years in then Koldo, Begoña and finally Javier. first sight you realise that they are the States and I like it a lot. My The Bilbao-Campos family has very kind. I have also perceived a objective is to find a job in what I been closely linked to the Basque certain wariness of foreigners which studied for because I think the Community in Venezuela. "The Basque in may case disappears when I prove Basque Government gave me a community that lived in the that I am equally or even more chance to work in a job which as yet Venezuelan city of Valencia was knowledgeable in everything that goes does not exist”.

22 BASQUE YOUTH Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE YOUTH

AINHOA MENDIZABAL Voluntary worker in Thika, Kenya

«Beren hizkuntzan mintzatzen saiatzen zarenean, beren kulturarekiko interesa duzuela adierazten diezu, eta, nahiz eta oso gaizki egin, oso ondo hartzen zaituzte»

lack depth, and in Kenya there are 42 tribes, each one with its own language, some of which are similar, although others are not, although English and Swahili are the official languages. Trying to talk their language shows that you have taken an interest in their culture, and even if you speak it poorly they are surprised, they find it amusing «I want to go back» and are grateful. I had to leave just when I was starting to get by in the Ainhoa spent three months in Thika, etcetera.The problem we see is that language, it’s a pity, but as I told them: in Kenya. It is a small city an hour there is hardly any contact or Nataka kurundi tena kwasababu away from Nairobi. She studied circulation of information between napenda healthy Kenya lakini sina Environmental and Agricultural these groups, which makes it difficult pesa, i.e. I want to come back because ABiology, and then Technical for them to coordinate or help each I like the country a lot but right now I Agricultural Engineering, specialising other.The problems are similar and don’t have any money". in Fruit and Vegetable Growing and what we seek is to share solutions so She was not alone, although Gardening. She went to University in that the greatest possible number of sometimes she felt so, "particularly Iruñea and collaborated with the people can benefit from all the efforts when I couldn’t see what good I was Acción Verapaz Iruñea NGO in made". doing there. My command of English awareness-raising and other activities. She left her friends working in was not conducive to interesting "Since then– she states– I have been Thika and its surrounds and will send conversations; I thought that other interested in the world of cooperation, them different material such as activities, and from Euskal Herria, although I felt that I needed computers and publications, describe might be more useful. Moreover,having experience, I wanted to know the how the networks operate, try to get to be back in the facilities of the NGO protagonists, their thoughts and vision people to collaborate… "We would at nightfall, around 6 in the afternoon, of life”. like this network to bring everyone for security reasons, depressed me. Thus, along with some friends together and help us all to know each During those long moments of from different young people’s and other better". loneliness I remembered my family, and community development organisations During her spell in Kenya she even Mari Jaia and Aste Nagusia… she started to mobilise the existing visited different groups of farmers in but it was worth it, because I am associations for promoting their towns and villages to see the impressed by the work of the NGO and networking. activities they carried on. She also all the people I met there.They are "In Kenya there is a powerful attended several courses on the people with a lot of initiative and are grass-roots movement that deals with transformation of raw materials in the very hardworking. It is a activities related to community things field of agriculture, as well as the predominantly agricultural country, such as employment, attention to building of installations for livestock. and current market policies do more people with AIDS – a veritable For Ainhoa, one of the most damage than we can imagine. I believe tragedy – the promotion of organic important factors was learning to talk in them and I hope that we can do agriculture, developing centres for Swahili, or at least attempting to. "If more to help them develop and learn access to books, the Internet, training, you cannot communicate, relationships from each other”.

Issue 71. Year 2005 EUSKAL GAZTEAK MUNDUAN 23 MÉXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MÉXICO … VANCOUVEREUSKAL E …TX ECHILEAK … SIDNEY …BA SBUENOSQUE CEN TAIRESRES …

Seminar on the Basque Industrial and Technological Model in Colombia S Lehendakari Ibarretxe:

R «The aim is to agree, compete and cooperate at the same time» E Euskal Astearen barnean, eta Juan Jose Ibarretxe the neoliberal model, where there Lehendakariak Kolombian egindako bisitaldian, joan den is a voracious race that ends in Irailaren 27an, "El Nogal" elkartearen egoitzan, "Colombia the ruthless elimination of all the T Primero" Euskal Guneak eta "Cooperación Colombia"k competitors. "The idea is to antolaturik, Euskal Industria eta Teknologiko Ereduari agree, compete and cooperate at buruzko mintegia egin zen. Ekonomiaren hainbat arlotako the same time, to innovate and 300 enpresari inguru, biltzarkideak, alkateak, gremiotako bring in a human nuance to the

N elkarteen presidenteak joan ziren, eta baita ere, whole process, since people drive deszentralizatutako institutoen zuzendariak, akademikoak development. The objective of eta ikasle batzuk. competing is not to sell more, but rather to generate wellbeing in

E the society developing the The Seminar on the Basque also shared the perception of the economic activity", asserted the Industrial and Technological Basque company on competition, Lehendakari. Model featured the presence of drawing a distinction between the "Cooperation –he added- C the Lehendakari Ibarretxe and former and the same concept in straddles several domains or the participation of dimensions; it should not be other outstanding limited to the area of

speakers such as the ex- investment, but should go Vice-Chairman Jon hand in and with the Azua, Julián Sánchez transfer of knowledge,

E Alegría, director of the information, technology, Technological Park of resources, cultural Biscay, and the Minister exchange, of students and of Trade, Industry and professionals". Tourism of Colombia, The relations between U Jorge Humberto Botero the Basque Country and the The Lehendakari territory where Colombia is disserted on the process located today go back of Industrial Recon- several years; in Colombia Q version and Techno- there has been considerable logical Innovation in the Basque migration, one Basque Country, high- example being Simón lighting the importance Bolívar the Liberator, who, S of education in this with his Basque origin and process and in all major entrepreneurial spirit, transformations in shaped the liberating army general. "Social cohe- which brought these peoples A sion is fundamental – their independence from he stated-; we must Spain, symbolised in the make sure that we all sowing of a shoot from the Lehendakari planted a shot of the Tree of Gernika on la advance together". He Quinta de Simón Bolívar. tree Gernika on la Quinta de B

24 EUSKAL ETXEAK Issue 71. Year 2005 MÉXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MÉXICO … EUSKAL ETXEAK BASQUE CENTRES VANCOUVER … CHILE … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES …

Simón Bolívar in Bogotá during Health and Agriculture, which the visit by the Lehendakari to made it possible to design an The Basque

Colombia. integral, and not a partial, policy, S Jon Azua explained the which is pivotal to the success of economy strategy of clusters of companies this model in this nation. We and organisations that work in a must see business cooperation as in figures

defined economic sector, an instrument to make the R The level of development of the geographically concentrated, and economic sector more efficient economy of the Basque Country which operate in an environment and more competitive, thereby presents optimistic figures: a per characterised by a high degree of generating better comparative capita income in 2004 of US specialisation, thus generating advantages and a better 23,000 euros, 30% above the E operating synergies. penetration in the international Spanish income. Its productivity Azua underscored the market". is the third in Europe. These importance of including this Julián Sánchez Alegría, after figures are even more significant process within the framework of travelling from Shangai to if we take into account that two T a country strategy, contrary to Colombia, shared his experience decades ago the Basque what the neoliberals propose as Director of the Technological economy, to mention but one when they say that the best Park of Biscay, highlighting the example, had an unemployment

industrial policy is that which importance of networking to rate of 30%, whereas today it N does not exist. "In the Basque create synergies and value in the stands at 7.5%. case – he explained - the local business industry, which Competitiveness and Industria- should also be connected to

lisation Programme has been international networks. transfer together with E framed within a government "Technological Parks – he said - sustainable environments of policy and strategy that enjoyed conjugate several factors such as great environmental quality, the participation of the the location of companies of configuring a suitable setting for Ministries of Industry, Edu- excellence, universities, centres the integration of science, C cation, Economy and Finance, for research and technology technology and the company.

Cooperation Agreements E In Colombia they trust that the Basque development model, and in this particular case its industrial and technological U model, will continue to be an example for Colombian entrepreneurs in the sectors where the cluster Q and technological parks model is applicable, adapted to the situation of S Colombia. Progress has already been made in Technological Parks, an example being the same day as the Seminar,September 27, a cooperation Technological Park of Antioquía which was agreement was signed between the Network of implemented with resources from the Spanish Agency Technological Parks of the Basque Country and the A of International Cooperation as part of the SENA, the Colombian Institute of Education which Technological Parks and Centres Plan of the Ministry had already signed an agreement for the provision of of Trade, Industry and Tourism of Colombia. On the schools and virtual rooms of the Mondragón group. B

Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE CENTERS 25 VANCOUVER …CHILESIDNEYBUENOSAIRES … IDAHOSANJUANROSARIOMEXICO SIDNEY …BUENOSAIRESVILLAMARÍACARACAS MEXICO …ARGENTINACHILESANFRANCISCO 26 E U S

B A S Q U E C E N T E R S K A brought togetherthousands of Argentinean L euskal etxeas and Argentinean Government of andtheauthorities agreements betweentheBasque thesigning of several Junkera, byKepa aconcert music activities, localBasque dancing, engravings, exhibitions ofpaintingsFEVA, and traditional meeting plenary of The Elisa Mendibil. Díazde María Government in Argentina, appointed Delegate oftheBasque for thefirst time bythenewly wasattended which general meeting, of Argentine BasqueOrganisations. theFederation together withFEVA, Etxea Basque-NecocheaCentre organised this year bytheEuzko Basques rising totheannualcall, for thousandsofArgentinean ameeting point November 7and13, between became, Buenos Aires, The city ofNecochea, coastal

A Youth Congress the preceded (ex-Chairman ofFEVA), Charles Sosa(Chairman de MendibilandPhillip Muguerza, Chairmanof Azkarate, MªElisaDíez of FEVA), TitoGaillour, E Josu Legarreta, Esther The NationalBasque Week inNecochea Basques whoare proud oftheirorigin T Larrañaga, Miren X Euzko Etxea. E A K conceived asaforum for young athree-daymeeting Congress, wayforsection made the Youth the localcommunity.This cultural prominent andmembers of artists by Juan Cruz Balsategui, Gutiérrez andphotographs Juan Balsategui; woodcuttings by Centre oftheCity; Arozarena room oftheCultural officially openedin thePedro Balsategui andJorge Dabóswas workpictorial ofZilda andClaudia anexhibition with the Week, ispatentinwhich name. itsvery city withahugeBasque influence, a sincepresent 1944in Necochea, the shootof Tree ofGernika, inaugurations andanoffer before programme withtheobligatory configured acomprehensive different sector-specific and meetings, educational authorities, In therun-up totheBasque B A S Q EUSKAL ETXEAK U hnsBsu,andtheBasque things Basque, and themassmedia withregard to the press euskal etxeak in theworld, provided dataandoverviews onthe who University ofNevada in Reno, Centre ofBasqueStudies ofthe the Diaspora andteacher ofthe and Gloria expert inTotoricagüena, ETB for theAmerican continent; broadcasts which Basque Channel, veteran journalist ofthe anddirector José Félix Azurmendi,Government; Basque Communities oftheBasque ofRelationsdirector withthe featured talksbyJosu Legarreta, and Argentina andUruguay, young peoplefrom centresin euskaletxeak.respective generations in running their new Basque-Argentinean insertion andcommitment ofthe people tomake progress in the E The Congress by wasattended

C E N T Issue 71.Year 2005 R E S MEXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MEXICO … EUSKAL ETXEAK BASQUE CENTRES VANCOUVER … CHILE … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES …

«FEVA-ko ohizko eta osoko S bileran honako jarduerak egin ziren: margo eta grabatu erakusketak, dantza erakustaldiak, R bertako euskal musikari emanaldiak, Kepa Junkeraren kontzertua E eta zenbait konbenioren sinadura» T

identity in the world, respectively. The pre-weekend events included the official opening, at a beauty spot

next to the river Quequen, of the N ‘Paseo de los Robles’, a green space of great beauty sponsored by the Local Basque Centre at the request of the Municipality of Necochea.The E performance of the "Gernikako Arbola" concluded the event, which

was presided by the mayor Daniel C Molina. Above, a photo from the concert by Kepa Junkera and the otxote Osasuna. Bottom, the offering of flowers at the shoot of the Tree of Gernika.

Institutional presence

Euskal Herria was officially premiere" of the group from Arrecife of Gernika, which has been present represented by Miren Azkarate, Maral, who were a great surprise in a square in Necochea since 1944,

Minister of Culture and with the splendid voice of their and then attended mass in the Parish E spokeswoman of the Basque singer Mariana Dominé Irigoyen, Church of Santa María del Carmen. Government. The Minister of the performing songs such as "Lau Subsequently, dantzaris and dance Environment and Territorial teilatu", "Aita semeak" or "Maider". groups from the provinces and rest

Planning, Esther Larrañaga, was The different rooms of the of the country took part in a U also in attendance. Basque Centre and the House of procession to the Colegio Danés, The concert by Kepa Junkera Culture played host to the where the traditional artistic evening and the local otxote Osasuna in a representatives of the euskal etxeak was held. local theatre kicked off an from the whole country at the A mass-meal closed the Week in Q extraordinary week-end where the FEVA plenary meeting, as well as the sports centre of the Colegio music and rhythms of the bilbotarra the sector meetings of heads of Danés, in the course of which the were repeated at almost every one libraries and directors. Miren prizes of the Love Letters Contest

of the events and in the minds of the Azkarate signed an agreement with were announced and awarded, which S thousands of Basques that filled the FEVA, represented by its chairman had been convened by the Villegasko different scenarios of the Paris Charles Sosa, and the new web site Euskaldunak Basque Centre of the Theatre, the Cultural Centre of was also presented: town of General Villegas, Buenos Necochea, the Danés Centre and the www.fevaonline.org.ar. Aires. The awards were made by A Euskal Etxeak. Along with the Miren Azkarate, in an act that also performance of the trikitilari duo Offering of flowers featured the presence of Kinku Jon eta Idoia, who arrived from Zinkunegi, from the HABE, who had

Legazpi, in Guipuzkoa, Friday night The authorities made a floral been a member of the panel in B also witnessed the "euskaldun offering before the shoot of the Tree Euskal Herria.

Issue 71.Year 2005 BASQUE CENTRES 27 VANCOUVER …CHILESIDNEYBUENOSAIRES … IDAHOSANJUANROSARIOMÉXICO SIDNEY …BUENOSAIRESVILLAMARÍACARACAS MÉXICO …ARGENTINACHILESANFRANCISCO E U 28 S

B A S Q U E C E N T E R S K A L Indigenous LanguageSeminar. University ofChile have which of Chile andthePontifical forerunners being theUniversity the Europe andAmerica, up in different universities in havebeenstarted assistantships Euskadi, the Instituto view creation tothefuture of andwitha Basque Government, ofCulturethe Department Etxeas in Chile andArgentina. language in different Euskal and formal in classes Basque Basque language andculture university for assistantships being thepromotion of oneoftheobjectives Azkarate, Miren the Minister ofCulture, visit toChile andArgentina by was oneofthedrivers ofthe language andBasqueculture The extension ofBasque

On theinitiative ofthe E in Chileand T X E Basque language, a livinglanguage A K Argentina participate inparticipate thecourses. learners from two cycles Somethreehundred Valparaíso. incampuses Santiago and at theirfour university sinceand culturecourses 2004 been providing Basquelanguage Indigenous Meeting of Exporural Women. B A S Q U retn n19,under the Argentina in 1990, Munduan! emerged in mentioned "Euskara-eskolak remember thattheafore- Republic. developed in theArgentinean language in being classes more consolidated Basque coverage totheincreasingly topics which will in turn provide upalibrary onBasque start agreement withtheFEVA to teaching methods. self-learning anddistance academic material thatincludes aregiven who teachers, preparation ortraining ofthe withspecial importance attached tothe America, Posnan) and Warsaw, Helsinki, Frankfurt, Berlin, London, Brussels, Europe (Paris, Valladolid), Valencia, Barcelona, of theState(Madrid, givencourses in different cities promote theBasquelanguage Herria.This programme to seeks adults given Euskal outside of Basquelanguage for courses development andharmonisation for the HABE Institute programme developed bythe "Euskara-eskolak munduan" gramme isrelated tothe E nta es,weshould In thatsense, Miren Azkarate signed an The pro- assistantship EUSKAL ETXEAK

C E N T R E Issue 71.Year 2005 S MÉXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MÉXICO … EUSKAL ETXEAK BASQUE CENTRES VANCOUVER … CHILE … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES …

2004tik Santiago eta S Valparaisoko lau Campus unibertsitarioetan, R Euskal hizkuntza eta kultura ikastaroak E ematen dituzte, ia 300 lagunek parte

hartzen dutelarik. T

name Argentina Euskaraz, from a proposal made by the FEVA

a year before. Since then, and N fruit of the collaboration with HABE, three programmes have An agreement has been signed with been undertaken that have not only made it possible to teach Chile in matters of bilingualism E Basque to Argentineans, but The Department of Culture of the Basque Government signed a also the creation of Argentinean collaboration agreement in linguistic policy with the Ministry of Basque language teachers and Planning of Chile in the course of the visit made by the Minister autonomous management of the of Culture, Miren Azkarate, to the Latin American country. C project from Argentina. This The agreement, signed by the Minister and Jaime Andrade, programme also spread to head of MIDEPLAN, was made within the framework of the

Uruguay six years ago, and two First Seminar on Indigenous Languages held in Santiago de Chile years ago to Chile. on November 10 and 11 which in itself was the "avant lettre" In the 2005-2006 academic fruit of the Basque-Chilean collaboration in the framework of

year, Argentina has some 820 bilingualism and normalisation of indigenous languages. E students of Basque language The Basque Government will provide its experience in the (42 local teachers and almost process of standardisation and normalisation of Basque language fifty from Euskal Etxeas), i.e., to the indigenous languages of Chile; this expertise is very suitable one out of every two students of taking into account the process of revitalisation of the Basque this languages outside Euskal language and its recent implementation in the world of teaching, U Herria is in Argentina.There is both formal and adult, all of which is linked to the linguistic leap also a pilot project in the made between the Basque language and the languages it coexists pipeline for new teacher with –Castilian and French-, very similar to that which exists training. Taught remotely from between the Spanish spoken in Chile and the indigenous languages Q Euskadi using the new of Chile. technologies, 40 Argentinean In the course of the visit to Chile, the Minister of Culture,

students are being trained by Miren Azkarate, also held contacts on matters pertaining to the S means of boarding schools, in recovery of the cultural heritage with representatives of the situ and distance classes to MIDEPLAN, the Ministry of Planning of Chile which, together become Basque language with the questions of indigenous development, is also in charge teachers in two years’ time.This of heritage; and held a meeting with the Minister of Culture of will almost double the number Chile, José Weinstein, with whom she explored possible routes of A of teachers and will reach the collaboration in cultural matters, mainly related to audiovisual objective of each Basque Centre area. having its own teacher. B

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B A S Q U E C E N T E R S K A today openedtheBasque Week in Venezuela Basque culture could hardly the photographer Peru Ajuria. journalist Koldo and SanSebastián "Basque Exile in Venezuela" by the andthereprint ofthebook Zamudio, genealogist from BiscayXabier technical of the assessment withthe Surnames in Venezuela", the publication of thebook"Basque Eguzki presented theInstituto end, awareness of"things Basque".To this their tofurther two products wished tooffer Venezuelan society city ofCaracas. travel toother culture venuesofthe The exhibition will professional. through theeyes ofagreat taking in thecurrent Basquereality affording visitors thepleasureof the image ofamodern Euskadi, Valencia.The photographs convey time in theBasque Centreof andonshow atthesame 27th, keeping theexhibition onuntil the by Centreoffered itssupport, Art Mikel Arrazola. Government, photographer oftheBasque IzaskunEtxearte andthe Eguzki, ofCooperationBasque Institute ofthe the director Venezuelan ItziarRodriguez, Basque Centre, greeting by thechairman ofthe aurresku of honourandwelcome an exhibition ofphotosEuskadi, Caracas withtheopening ofan Government. representing theBasque with theBasqueCommunities, ofRelations Director Legarreta, featured theparticipation ofJosu aBasque Week that and 28, betweenNovember 19 organised, Centres ofCaracas and Valencia of Venezuela andtheBasque The Federation ofBasqueCentres L Such abroad overview of The organisers ofthe Week The Caracas de LaEstancia The activities kicked offin An exhibitionofphotographs onEuskadi

E T X E A K renowned chefsfrom theLeioa gala dinner preparedbyfour eventtookplaceata delegates.The had beenofficialwho orpersonal the BasqueCommunity andtothose alsopaid homageto Government, opening oftheCentreBasque managing theformalities for the iscurrently which Foreign Action, movement in theBasqueCountry. onthecooperativedisserted of theCooperativa Mondragón, de Coordinator ofProjects Gerediaga, while LuisMaríaÁlvarez Company", on "Vocational Training andthe University ofCarabobo (Valencia) Bello ofCaracas andin the the Universidad Católica Andrés gave conferences in Iñaki Mujika, Minister of Vocational Training, theDeputy university campus.Thus, overlook theactivities in the The General Secretariat of aurkeztu zituzten. Astearen barnean, "Euskal abizenak "Euskal Erbestea Venezuelan" eta argitalpenak Venezuelan" B A S Q U Zorionak! associates day: onsuchanimportant itsGoverning Boardandallits Laso, Javier congratulate itsPresident, Euskal Etxeak would like to commemorated dates.This onthese its BasqueCentre was 30th anniversary ofthefounding of between November 20and28.The simultaneously in thecity of Valencia inpunta. cesta and Korta, Urtasun Madarieta, and Erkiaga, in thehandmodality, Gaizka López, Egoitz Amantegi and Urtiarte, well asthepelotaris Roberto as and LuisJavier Fonseca Eraso, led byJosé Ignacio IslaLombera Guisásola andKepa Esparta, Atutxa Jesús Iruretagoiena Elustondo, José Ramón Antonio Gisasola, organising performances byJosé activities by Basque sports Paraíso. in theCasaHogarsport El de demonstration ofpelota andrural aswell asthe Guipuzcoa, Konpainia folklore group from oftheKukai bemade must Dantza Moreover, special mention Bilbainos. known musicgroup LosCinco entertainment provided bythewell- with School ofHotel andCatering, E The sameactivities tookplace The Basque Week catered to EUSKAL ETXEAK

C E N T R Issue 71.Year 2005 E S MÉXICO … ARGENTINA … CHILE … SAN FRANCISCO … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES … VILLA MARÍA … CARACAS … IDAHO … SAN JUAN … ROSARIO … MÉXICO … EUSKAL ETXEAK BASQUE CENTRES VANCOUVER … CHILE … SIDNEY … BUENOS AIRES …

OBITUARIES S Monsignor Garmendia, the first Basque bishop of New York, passed away Monsignor Garmendia, the first R Basque bishop of New York, passed away on November 16 after a long disease. Born in E Lazkao, Guipuzkoa, 81 years ago, and after a stay in Argentina and Bolivia, he moved to New York in

1964, where he was appointed T bishop in June 1977 by Pope Paul that we all deeply regret his death. the 6th. He said a lot of masses for In 1986, Cardinal John That was what many people called members of the Basque O’Connor named him vicar of the him in the Euskal Etxea where he community who had passed away, South Bronx, a post he held until was remembered as a very and now we are now holding this N he retired in 2001, when he was accessible man. Every year he said mass in his memory", concluded replaced by the current assistant the Aberri Eguna mass and always Albisu. bishop, also Basque, Josu Iriondo. liked to talk to everyone The funeral for the soul of E From the Bronx, Monsignor afterwards". Francisco Garmendia in the Garmendia dedicated all his work "In his later years", Albisu cathedral of San Patricio was to helping the Hispanic community. concludes, "he no longer came celebrated by the Archbishop of

He funded la Línea de Esperanza because he was ill, and the truth is New York, Cardinal Edward Egan. C del Vicariato of the South Bronx to serve the Honduran community

and other Latin American immigrants. Mario J. Paredes, director of investment for the Spanish market of Merril Lynch, who knew E Monsignor Garmendia well, said, in the pages of IBLNEWS, that "in all the activities he undertook, he

always lived up to the U gentlemanliness of the Basque people, and did so without the slightest trace of conceit or

haughtiness, in total independence, Q never yielding or faltering, following only his conscience. It is difficult to find such authenticity

and Christianity in our days". S Throughout his long stay in Ricardo Maguregui New York, Garmendia never forgot his roots and always kept in touch The former delegate of the Basque Government in Venezuela,

with the Basque community.The Ricardo Maguregui from 1951 to 1955, also passed away in A chairwoman of the euskal etxea in the month of October. Maguregui was honoured in the acts New York, Itziar Albisu, celebrated during the Basque Week organised by the General remembered him like this on Radio Secretariat of Foreign Action.

Euskadi: "For us he was Patxi; B

Issue 71. Year 2005 BASQUE CENTRES 31 PHOTO ALBUM

This is a photo in my first house in the city of San Lorenzo, in the province of Santa Fe (Argentina), with the present my father was waiting to give me on arriving from Spain with mum. Inés de Castro Morejón

DO YOU HAVE ANY PICTURES TO ADD TO THE ALBUM? If you do and would like to see it published in this section, e-mail it to us at the following address: [email protected]

Eusko Jaurlaritzaren Argitalpen Zerbitzu Nagusia Basque Government Central Publication Service