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With the 6th World Congress of Basque Communities Abroad concluded, EuskalKultura.com went to the Directorate of Basque Communities Abroad to get their opinion on how the Congress and Gaztemundu 2015 went.  In the words of director, Asier Vallejo Itsaso, things can always be done better, but they believe that Gaztemundu went very well, and the Congress also went well, while considering the suggestions that they have received in regards to the format and some improvements for future editions. We include the entire series of Congress photos. 

Vitoria-Gasteiz.   After any event of this nature, there comes a time to evaluate it and to get in touch with organizers who have collaborated or participated internally and externally for feedback, data collection, opinions and suggestions that may indicate possible weaknesses that may serve to do a better job next time.  That is what the Directorate for the Basque Community Abroad is currently doing and so we wanted to get their first reaction on how things went from the organization and its director.  Asier Vallejo feels that the Congress went well, although recognizing that there is room for improvement, for example running out of time on Friday to finalize the draft of the conclusions, but regardless he is rather satisfied.  He also assures us that he is ready and available to adapt and modify the format to assure more participation and make improvements in regards to the final document that will now be sent along to the Advisory Council for final approval as the Four-Year Plan.

He stressed the relevance and the importance of having an expert in Diasporas at the Congress in Kingsley Aikins from Ireland who gave the keynote address for delegates, Gaztemundu participants and guests including invited authorities in order to “Diasporize” coined by himself.  Kingsley Aikins also had the opportunity to meet in private with the President of the Basque Parliament, Bakartxo Telleria, and for an hour with Lehendakari Urkullu, who knows now by first hand about his ideas for “Diasporize” and who shared this meeting with Marian Elorza, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, and Asier Vallejo.

Between Congress Meetings

Among the measures supported by the Congress, one that has already been carried out and will repeat before the next World Congress are the between-congress regional meetings every two years.  This was a proposal especially supported by European delegates who would also be in favor of annual European get-togethers, even though the official decision was to hold them "annually or biannually depending on the budget.”  On behalf of FIVU, Montevideo offered itself to host the next regional meeting.  Since NABO holds three meetings annually that include Canadian representation, Mexico could send a delegate one every other year to create a regional meeting there. Asian and Australian clubs would attend the European regional meeting.

There are 25 countries in the world with Basque clubs or federations and the law requires that everyone send three delegates.  In the end, only 22 countries attended while the number of delegates totaled 59.  Those missing were Andorra, China, and the Dominican Republic.  The reason for these countries and delegates no attending needs to be checked, but there will be some fine-tuning done in order alleviate some of the organizational dysfunction and economic problems.

Reports

The fifteen Gaztemundu participants who also attended the Congress, as part of the application process, had to present a report on possible problems in their respective clubs, as well as offer solutions.  The requirement worked perfectly, providing valuable material for the progress and advancement of each club.   In the case of the delegates and participating Basque clubs, the same interest wasn’t generated to suggest themes and provide reports.  In this regard, the idea is being proposed of analyzing this point and conducting a self-evaluation by the Basque Government as well as by the clubs themselves.

The Congress proceedings, discusses during the morning of the last day, will now move on for their final edit that will be done and presented to the meeting of the Directorate of the Basque Community Abroad with the three representatives elected at the Congress.  These proposals will be submitted to the Advisory Council, where these three newly-elected individuals will represent the interests of the Basque clubs, in order to examine, discuss and approve them and make them the official Four-Year Plan, a kind of road map to guide the goals and relationship between the Basque Government and clubs for the next four years.  This Advisory Council meeting, presided by the Lehendakari, may take place this December.