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The Basque Government announces that a new US delegate will be appointed soon along with opening its new office in Boise

06/22/2011

Idaho Deputy Governor Brad Little's meeting with Lehendakari Lopez last September in Vitoria-Gasteiz
Idaho Deputy Governor Brad Little's meeting with Lehendakari Lopez last September in Vitoria-Gasteiz

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Basque Government spokesperson, Idoia Mendia, announced yesterday, at the Governing Council’s weekly Tuesday meeting, that approval has been given to open a representative office in Boise, part of the central delegation of Euskadi in North America, whose main headquarters is in New York. Mendia also indicated that the Government will soon appoint the person who will serve as the governmental representative, a position that has been vacant since the resignation, two years ago, of the former incumbent, Aitor Sotes, who was appointed by the Ibarretxe government.

Vitoria-Gasteiz.  The opening of a new Basque Government satellite office in Boise is the result of Lehendakari López’s visit, last July, to Idaho’s capital, when Lehendakari López met with Governor Butch Otter, as well as a subsequent meeting held in the Basque Country in September between Deputy Governor Brad Little and the Lehendakari.

Boise, Gernika’s sister-city, has one of the largest Basque populations in the United States, including a Basque Mayor in Dave Bieter who also speaks Basque.  The Secretary of State is also a Basque-American, Ben Ysursa, whose family has been an important part of the Basque community, established in Idaho since the late nineteenth, early twentieth centuries.

The relationship between Idaho and Euskadi has increased notably during the last few decades, due not only to the Basque community, but also due to economic interests that both share.  It is within this context that official trips and contacts have been made by both administrations including the Lehendakari’s trip last July which coincided with Jaialdi, Boise’s mega Basque festival, held once every five years.

An Idaho office is also expected to be opened in Bilbao, as outlined in the agreement signed by both administrations, valid for two years, in order to deepen the economic, educational and cultural ties between Idaho and Euskadi.

Furthermore, the opening of the office in Boise will finalize the restructuring of the Basque Government's presence in North America which includes, besides the central Delegation in New York, its current government office in Mexico City, culminating it with the appointment --it seems that in july-- of the government representative in New York that will fill the vacancy left by Aitor Sotes’s resignation two years ago.  Sotes was appointed by the Ibarretxe Cabinet.

 



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