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Fernando Lizarbe and Alejo Conti, from Rosario, members of Geroa Bai Argentina, toured Navarre to meet with representatives of Geroa Bai in Navarre, as well as representatives of the Government of Navarre, including with president Uxue Barkos.  During their stay, they gave a talk about Geroa Bai Argentina and participated in Nafarroa Oinez, the traditional festival fundraiser for Ikastolas in Navarre. 

Rosario, Argentina.   The first formal visit by Geroa Bai Argentina to Navarre began on October 13 in Pamplona where Fernando Lizarbe and Alejo Conti were welcomed for lunch at the Parliament of Navarre along with President, Uxue Barkos.  The lunch was the first in a series of events that included the talk “Zer da Geroa Bai Argentina,” that the Argentines presented at the Geroa Bai headquarters.  During their talk they explained to those present what the initiative was about, what activities they have sponsored over the last two years in favor of the preservation and dissemination of the Basque culture and language in Argentina and what a group like Geroa Bai represents, from the political sphere, in Argentina.  The audience was very participatory, which allowed the speakers to maintain a “fruitful and friendly dialogue about how politics work in the Diaspora as well as discuss how to support mutual collaboration,” Lizarbe said.

Continuing with meetings, the Argentines were also welcomed by Pello Pellejero, Director General of Institutional Communication and Relations of the Government of Navarre, and Mikel Etxegarai, Chief of Staff of the Navarrese Ministry of Citizenship and Institutional Relations (ministry by Ana Ollo) who they analyzed different ways to increase the institutional presence of the Government of Navarre in Argentina with, especially in social and cultural events related to Navarre-Diaspora, and where they suggested ways of making Navarre an attractive tourist destination for travelers from Argentina.

Estella-Lizarra and Viana

On the third day of their trip, Lizarbe and Conti traveled to Estella-Lizarra to continue their program of meetings and to get to know Irujo Etxea, the natal home of the famous Navarran politician, Manuel de Irujo.  To conclude their stay, on Sunday, October 16^th the two, both Basque teachers at the Zazpirak Bat Basque Club in Rosario, and in Conti’s case, Professor of Basque at the Chair of Basque Language and Culture at the National University of Rosario, participated in the Nafarroa Oinez celebration, fundraiser for Ikastolas in Navarre.

At each of their meetings, Lizarbe and Conti explained the goal of Geroa Bati Argentina, and explored possibilities of carrying out joint projects that could strengthen the coalition in Navarre and especially abroad, as well as stressing the development of teaching Basque over the last few years in Rosario.  The representatives of Geroa Bai Argentina wanted to sincerely thank everyone involved with Geroa Bai for having met with them and for having shown such willingness to listen to them and speak with them.  The full report of the trip is available here: blog Geroa Bai Argentina.