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The event was held on Tuesday, concluding the first day of Urkullu’s visit at the head of a business and institutional expedition to Colombia.  The reception and travel had been coordinated by the Delegation of Euskadi in Chile, Peru and Colombia, headed by Rafael Kutz Garaizabal.  Urkullu also visited the Gernika Plaza in Bogota, near the Basque club’s headquarters in the capital. The Plaza houses a replica of Picasso’s painting, along with a sculpture by Navarrese artist Xabier Santxotena. 

Bogota, Colombia.   As usual on trips abroad, Lehendakari Urkullu gathered this week with representatives and members of the Basque community in the country.  The event took place at the end of his first day visiting and included a reception at the NH Royal Metrotel Hotel in the capital with Basque businesses and local Basque communities.  As the Lehendakari stated in his address at the event, see video, Colombia is a country that has an important Basque historic influence and presence.  Currently there are three recognized Basque clubs in the country, one in the capital and two others in the department of Antioquia, in Medellin and Caldas.

Urkullu had a charged schedule that was mainly economic and business in nature, in which the Basque communities and Peace and Human Rights also had their share.  In addition to the wide business representation, accompanying the Lehendakari, among others were, Arantxa Tapia, Minister of Economic Development and Infrastructure; Marian Elorza, Secretary General of Foreign Action; Javier Zarraonaindia Zuluaga, Vice-Minister of Industry, Ainhoa Ondarzabal, Director of Internationalization, Alejandro Lopez Carcamo, Director of Industrial Development; and Leyre Madariaga, Director of Foreign Relations; as well as the Delegate of Euskadi in Chile, Peru and Colombia, Rafael Kutz Garaizabal.  The Delegation of Euskadi’s main headquarters is in Santiago de Chile with a smaller headquarters and offices in Bogota as well.

The video taken at the reception for Basque businesses and the Basque community and the address in Basque and Spanish by the Lehendakari (Irekia):