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The Basque clubs in France that are officially recognized by the Basque Government, met last Saturday.  The presidents and highest representatives of clubs from Paris, Bordeaux and Pau met at Lagunt eta Maita in Pau, hoping to get to know each other better and take advantage of these relationships as well as coordinate to improve their effectiveness.  The Basque Government’s Director of the Basque Community Abroad, Asier Vallejo Itsaso, also attended as a guest as well as guest speaker.  

Pau, France.  Presidents of the three Basque clubs attended the meeting, Sebastien Daguerre (Paris), David Mugica (Bordeaux) and hosting club, Pantxoa Challet.  Along with them, Maryse Lartigue Paris’s vice-president, Bruno Luro, Bordeaux’s vice-president, and from Pau’s club, Beñat Mandagaran treasurer, Joelle Ihidoy, dance director and vice-treasurer, as well as Rene Sallaber, club caretaker.

The meeting began just after 10am, with each club making a presentation about itself, its activities and economic situations, as well as answering questions from other clubs.  The possibility of coordinating activities was also discusses, in particular in relation to economics and applying together for commercial sponsoring and funding from France and the Basque Country.

This theme continued in the second part of the meeting.  Just after noon, Asier Vallejo, Director of the Basque Community Abroad in the Basque Government arrived from Vitoria-Gasteiz along with technician, Manu Meaurio, and met with them after lunch.  They talked about Basque Government grants, and about the World Congress of Basque Collectivities that will take place the week of October 5 in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

The idea of creating  joint event among the clubs was also addressed, as well as examining the possibility of creating a French federation of Basque clubs like those existing in other countries like FEVA in Argentina, NABO in the US, or FIVU in Uruguay.

Just before the end of the meeting Joseba Etxarri, director of EuskalKultura.com, present all day long, explained the importance of a good strategy for communication and to publicize each club’s activities, in order to strengthen the already close relationship that this medium has with the clubs in Paris, Bordeaux and Pau.  The meeting concluded after 6pm.