albistelaburrak newsin brief proceedings against the Lehendakari on 8th January. In a statement read out to the press, the Vice-lehendakari Idoia Zenarrutzabeitia asserted that "this trial against the Lehendakari is not going to deflect us from our political convictions and commitments to peace, dialogue and political standardisation." THE BASQUE ECONOMY OCTOBER WILL GROW 2.3% IN 2008 JUAN MARI ARZAK, WELL- The Vice-lehendakari Idoia KNOWN CHEF, RECEIVED THE Zenarrutzabeitia appeared before the THE LEHENDAKARI 2008 UNIVERSAL BASQUE press after the Basque Cabinet of OPENED THE ACADEMIC AWARD FROM THE Ministers' meeting. The Vice- YEAR 2008-2009 AT THE LEHENDAKARI lehendakari expressed her concern UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE In an act celebrated in the about the crisis, but also declared COUNTRY Lehendakaritza, the President of the that she is optimistic about the During the opening of the new Basque Government's offices, coming year. academic year, Juan José Ibarretxe Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe gave "In Euskadi we are better prepared stated that in these times of the 2008 Universal Basque award to than others to get through this "financial, political and social the chef, Juan Mari Arzak. "Basque crisis, and so we will be less affected decline" it is important to "make a cuisine, by its own merits, has earned by it and we will be able to increase critical review of our attitudes" in all its place in the world, not necessarily our growth", she declared. areas of life. better or worse, but ours is our own and it is different, and we are entitled THE CRIME RATE REMAINS THE ICT SECTOR GENERATED to occupy a rightful place in that ALMOST FORTY POINTS 3.9% OF THE WEALTH global world that we are building day BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE CREATED BY THE BASQUE by day", declared the Lehendakari. The Spokesperson for the Basque ECONOMY IN 2006. Government, Miren Azkarate, According to data from the EUSTAT, THE POLITICAL COUNCIL OF announced the data provided by the the Information and Communication THE BASQUE GOVERNMENT Ministry of Home Affairs on the Technologies sector (ICT), with 2,175 STATED THAT THE crime rate. According to this data, companies and 24,277 people FORTHCOMING TRIAL crime in the Basque Country has actually in operation, produced 3.9% AGAINST THE LEHENDAKARI remained at the same rate since of the Gross Domestic Product of the IS NOT GOING TO DEFLECT IT 1997. This means that the crime rate Basque Country in 2006. This means FROM ITS POLITICAL in the Basque Country is almost 40 it reached a turnover of 4,931.3 CONVICTIONS points lower than the state average. million euros and generated wealth After the Basque Cabinet of Ministers' This progression has been constant in terms of added value to the figure weekly meeting, the Political Council since 1982, when the Ertzaintza of 2,146.8 million. met to assess the start of the oral (Basque Police) came into force. 4 euskal etxeak euskal etxeak 5 THE BASQUE POPULATION READS MORE, COMPARED WITH THE REST OF SPAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION NOVEMBER The "Statistics of cultural habits, practices and consumption in the Basque Country 2007-2008" were THE LEHENDAKARI ASSURED released this week. These figures reveal, THAT 2009 WOULD BE A KEY the Economic Promotion Council to among other things, that the Basque YEAR FOR THE BASQUE the press. This venture allocates 31 population generally reads more than ECONOMY million euros to subsidize ten strategic industrial projects that will the Spanish and European average. Juan José Ibarretxe opened the 4th create over 2,500 new jobs between This same study also compared the Euskadi Intergune at the BEC, an 2008 and 2011. The Lehendakari data regarding visits to the cinema, annual business event backing the assured that, despite the difficult theatre, concerts and libraries. internationalisation of companies. times ahead, "we will get through During his speech, he recalled the fact them", because "we are a responsible that, in 10 years, the SPRI [Association country", with "reliable companies DECEMBER for the Promotion of Industry] has and dedicated workers" who are managed to secure its presence in 51 committed to the country's future. INTERNATIONAL EUSKARA DAY: countries. He also added that Euskadi UKAN PRIZE-GIVING sells seven out of ten euros that it THE GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM CEREMONY AND INSTITUTIONAL produces, "which makes us one of the IN BILBAO HOSTED THE DECLARATION most open nations to the European BIKAIN CERTIFICATE-GIVING area, if not the most open." On 3rd December, International Euskara CEREMONY Day was celebrated all around the HABE CELEBRATED ITS 25TH Bikain is the official, public and free world. The Ukan Awards prize-giving ANNIVERSARY certificate that recognises and ceremony was held at the Regional assesses the continuous President's headquarters and the HABE, the Institute for Basque Culture, standardisation of Euskara in the Basque Minister of Culture Miren Language and Adult Literacy, business world and in the socio- Azkarate read out an institutional celebrated its 25th anniversary in an economic environment. They have declaration regarding this event. The act held at the Kursaal in San been awarded this year for the first gala was left somewhat lacklustre Sebastian. A total of 350,000 students time, and they have been given to 30 because of the attack on Inaxio Uria, have attended the euskaltegis over the companies, 22 of which belong to out of respect for which the ceremony's years, and the network of euskaltegis the service sector and the other 8 to musical performances and all other has not stopped growing. This year, for the industrial sector. entertainment aspects were suspended. example, over 35,000 people are learning Euskara in classes given by 1,500 teachers in 107 euskaltegis. There are also 60 agreements with 60 Basque Centers outside the Basque Country. The Lehendakari, Juan José Ibarretxe, and the Minister of Culture, Miren Azkarate, attended the event. THE BASQUE GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BACK 10 STRATEGIC PROJECTS TO CREATE 2500 JOBS IN THREE YEARS The Lehendakari Juan José Ibarretxe announced the measures adopted by The Lehendakari with Patxi Baztarrika, Vice-minister for Language Policy; Miren Azkarate, Minister 4 euskal etxeak euskal etxeak 5.