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Vitoria-Gasteiz.  The Governing Council of the Basque Government celebrated its first meeting yeasterday since the election of Lehendakari Urkullu and his naming eight members of his cabinet.  The Council also approved the the resignation and the appointment of senior officials of different departments, including the Presidency, Foreign Action and the Directorate for Basque Citizens and Communities Abroad.

The new Secretary General of Foreign Action who will replace Guillermo Echenique is Marian Elorza, while the person who will replace Julian Celaya will be named in the coming days.

Coinciding with their departures from office, both Guillermo Echenique and Julian Celaya have written letters of farewell to the Basque Communities, as echoed on the web: EuskalEtxeak.net.

LETTER FROM GUILLERMO ECHENIQUE (PDF: here)

Dear friends:

As you all know last Saturday Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu was sworn in.  As logic dictates, a new era now begins in Euskadi

This morning, Marian Elorza was named as the Secretary General of Foreign Action to whom I wish, from the bottom of my heart, the greatest success in her new post that she has now undertaken.

These have been four exciting years, during which I have had the opportunity to direct the Government’s Foreign Action.  We have tried to be a fundamental instrument for the Basque business sector, while serving as a link for citizens who live in almost every country in the world.

With these lines of farewell I convey my appreciation and affection, as well as that of the team who has accompanied me, which I also extend to the Basque organizations on five continents.  

We have a great country, Euskadi that we need to care for and protect on the outside as it deserves.  You all play a fundamental part in that.

Know that I am at your disposition for anything that you may need.  And so here is my personal email: gecheniquegonzalez@gmail.com.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and  New Year full of happiness for you and for your family.  Eskerrik Asko. A hug.

Guillermo Echenique González

CARTA DE JULIÁN CELAYA (PDF here)

Now that the Ninth Legislature is coming to an end, I should like to take this opportunity to bid farewell to those of you who have accompanied me along the way, each in accordance with your legitimate convictions, in this marvelous, intense adventure of the first Socialist government in the history of the Basque Country.

I should like to thank you for all your effort and collaboration, and to tell you that my experience as head of the Department of Basque Citizens and Communities Abroad has been extremely rewarding, not only because of the people I have met during my term in office but also because of the programs this Government has continued to offer Basque communities abroad.

Some of the most memorable events that come to my mind include the 5th World Congress of Basque Communities that took place in Donostia-San Sebastian and the 2012-2015 Four-year Plan drawn up as a result. This plan was passed unanimously at the Congress and its lines of action for the four-year period were also passed by the Basque Communities Advisory Council.

I am convinced that all the contacts we have had and all the discussions in which we have taken part and which were dealt with during the Congress, held (we must not forget) under the slogan “GUZTION ARTEAN” (“BETWEEN EVERYONE”), will remain in place and be consolidated as the pillars on which future relations between Basques living here in the Basque Country and abroad will be built.

Many thanks for that. My best wishes to you all.

Here’s wishing all my friends a very Merry Christmas and  Happy New Year from the bottom of my heart!

Julian Celaya Loyola