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The city of Montevideo became the site of a large program of events for the International Day of Euskera.  The main invitation came from the Euskal Erria Basque club that gathered distinguished individuals from the cultural work from America and the Basque Country.  At the same time, the Haize Hegoa Basque club was also the site of festivities of students from Montevideo and from San Jose.  Finally, in Salto, the ENE celebration will take place on the weekend of December 18 and 19. 

Montevideo, Uruguay.   On December 3-5, the congress “Euskera Day – The Basque Book in America” took place in Montevideo, organized by the Euskal Erria Basque club and attended by the Basque Government’s vice-counsel of the linguistic Policy Patxi Baztarrika, and delegate of the Government of Navarre in Brussels, Mikel Irujo.

As part of the conference several activities took place including the designation of the hall “Euskaldunberri” (as part of the campaign supported by Eusko Ikaskuntza) in December 3 and the presentation of a Basque class.

Also on the International Day of Euskera the following books were presented: Sophia’s Poems, by Sophia Etxeberria (Published by Euskal Erria); Contraviaje, by Arantzazu Ametzaga (Published by Ekin); The History of Euskadi Irratia, by Leyre Arrieta (Published by Ekin) and That Old Bilbao Moon by Joseba Zulaika (Published by the CBS Press).  Also as part of the meeting of Basque publishers in America, Cesar Arrondo talked about the recently created Lauburu Publishers.  The first day of the conference concluded with the screening of the film Zuretzako, presented as the first film in Euskera produced in the Diaspora.

The second day of the conferences was exclusively dedicated to talks and Publisher presentations.  In this context, Xabier Irujo presented the Euskal Erria Publishing followed by Irujo and Alberto Irigoyen giving a talk entitled “The Basque in Euskal Erria.”  From Buenos Aires Maria Elena Etcheverry was also present to talk about the Ekin Publishing and submission for the Andres Irujo Prize.

The conference “Euskera Day – The Basque Book in America” closed on December 5 with a ceremony at the Gernika Plaza in Montevideo.  There, Xabier Irujo talked about the “Massacre on Market Day,” and paid tribute to the Basques who throughout Uruguayan history have maintained and disseminated Euskera.

At Haize Hegoa

At the Haize Hegoa club, also in Montevideo, there was also a meeting of Basque students and teachers that were there to celebrate the day, invited by Basque teacher, Andrea Bella.  Students from San Jose and the Centro Euskaro and the Federation of Basque Institutions in Uruguay (FIVU) also participated in the event along with the hosting club.

In Salto

At the Basque club in Salto, December 3 is its birthday and this year they celebrated their 23rd on the International Day of Euskera by presenting diplomas to its students. Even though the larger celebration of ENE will take place on December 18 with cultural activities, and on the 19 with a taberna to which Cultural Department authorities as well as presidents of other Basque clubs in Uruguay and Argentina will be invited to.