|
Basque Center
PUBLICATIONS
Books
Newsletter
Issue
61
Issue
60
Issue
59
Issue
58
Issue
57
Issue
56
Issue
55
Issue
54
Issue
53
Highlights
Peace
Mexico
Dr
Bilbao
Women
Bookshelf
Congress
Issue
52
Issue
51
Issue
50
|
|
Basque Studies Program Newsletter · Issue
53, 1996
World Congress of Basque
Collectivities
In late October the Basque Government convened its
Primer Congreso Mundial de Colectividades Vascas in
Vitoria-Gasteiz. More than 50 delegates from Basque
communities in Australia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Venezuela,
Uruguay, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mexico, Canada, France,
Belgium, the United States and various cities within Spain
were in attendance. William Douglass gave a keynote address
on the opening night entitled Nora Goaz? (Where Are We
Going?).
During a week of sessions the delegates sought to
identify and discuss the key issues that will determine the
viability and significance of the Basque emigrant diaspora
in the new millennium.
One of the most exciting developments was the
announcement by the director of Basque Television that
serious consideration is being given to sending
transmissions via satellite of some Basque Country
programming to South and North America. The First World
Congress of Basque Collectivities made an important
contribution to the creation of new lines of communication
between the Basque Country and its diaspora. While not
necessarily foreseen by its organizers, a positive outcome
was the facilitation of contacts among the various
communities in the several countries that make up the Basque
diaspora. It is anticipated that there will be future
congresses to evaluate ongoing initiatives by the Basque
Government regarding the diaspora and to formulate new
ones.
|
