Buenos Aires, Argentina. Virtual meetings that have been used to solve urgencies in the context of quarantine, have become a new tool for the Basque community generating new meeting spaces. Just ten days ago, Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu gathered with representatives of Basque clubs around the world to find out how everyone is doing during the pandemic and to relay a message of support.
Encouraged by this experience, and invited by FEVA, Basque clubs and federations in Central and South America met on July 4th. Arantxa Anitua, who is also part of the Basque Government’s Basque Community’s Advisory Board, was very happy with the result of the meeting, and also entertains the possibility putting together another event, “that brings us all together.”
“The meeting was very good because it allowed us to see firsthand the reality of each country, which in these latitudes is quite similar. We have been able to give ourselves the containment we need and even think of a proposal so that people know how the American Basque Diaspora works,” explains Anitua. Due to the meeting’s success, there may be a second meeting next month.
Countries represented at the meeting:
-Brazil, Oskar Goitia (Eusko Brasildar Etxea in Sao Paulo) and Pilar Alava (Eusko Alkartasuna in Sao Paulo)
-Colombia, Ignacio Izaguirre ('Luis Miguel de Zulategi y Huarte' Basque Club in Medellín)
-Chile, Gonzalo Arellano (Viña del Mar Eusko Etxea /Valparaiso) and Ignacio Basterrica (Santiago Euzko Etxea)
-Peru, Alberto Escobal (Euskal Etxea of Lima)
-Uruguay, Maite Bengoa (Haize Hegoa in Montevideo), Miguel Asqueta (Ibai Ondoko Etxea in Carmelo, as well as representative of FIVU) and Luis Zaldua (from the Saltoko Euskaldunen Taldea in Salto as well as representing the Euskalerria Basque Club in Montevideo)
-Venezuela, Illargi Uzcanga (Eusko Etxea in Valencia, Carabobo)
-Argentina, FEVA’s Board of Directors: Arantxa Anitua (president), Asier Iriberri (vice-president), Carlos Miguelena (secretary), Elba Mocoroa (treasurer) and directors: Marisu Mendizabal, Pablo Pavesa, Luis Carricaburu, Cristina Arregui, Arantxa Zubillaga, Stella Larraburu, Federico Ezkerra, Ana María Erausquin, Ana Idígoras and Juan José Olasagastia.
Towards the end of the meeting, the Delegate of Euskadi in Argentina and Mercosur, Sara Pagola Aizpiri also joined in.
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