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Agreement between Udalbiltza and AEK

Hezkuntza / Euskal Herria - 2003/04/03

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Agreement between UDALBILTZA and AEK, whereby 6,000 euros will be handed over as aid to the organization of KORRIKA 2003. As you know, this year’s run is the 13th and will start tomorrow in Maule and end here in Iruñea on the 13th of April.

By means of this agreement which we are going to sign right now, UDABILTZA has two objectives: on the one hand, to state and reiterate our commitment to the defence and development of Euskera and, on the other, to help AEK by stressing and emphasizing the important work it is carrying out in the normalization and growth of our language, Euskera.

We are all aware of the situation experienced by Euskera; essentially, in some territories of Euskal Herria, such as in Navarra and Iparralde, for instance, or the recent attack against its normalization which the unfair closure of the only newspaper written in Euskera has entailed – the closure of EUSKALDUNON EGUNKARIA.



This whole situation deserves a response. To this end, UDALBILTZA,

1. Appeals to all citizens of Euskal Herria to actively, positively and happily take part in KORRIKA 2003, thus confirming and strengthening their commitment in favour of Euskera. That is the best response we can give to the current situation. Make a firm commitment to Euskera, defend our language and use it in all fields of our life.

2. Appeals also to the institutions of Euskal Herria and, in particular, to municipally-elected councillors and municipalities to, besides taking part in the KORRIKA, collaborate, facilitate and help AEK in their organization of it. It is the basic duty of democratic authorities to guarantee and protect the linguistic rights of citizens and, in particular, provide an impetus to policies in favour of Euskera. All authorities must make a special effort in favour of the development of Euskera, thus guaranteeing and supporting its learning and its appropriate use for all those who wish to do so.




Because, as we at UDALBILTZA have stated on more than one occasion,

1. Euskera is a thousand-year-old inheritance which has reached us from generation to generation. It is the oldest language known in Europe, the Basques’ own language and a cultural treasure and linguistic heritage belonging to all citizens of Euskal Herria and, by extension, all of Europe.

2. All languages are a sign of cultural plurality. Yet, in Euskal Herria, the language which finds itself in the weakest situation is Euskera, in comparison to Spanish and French, its also being our own language. We ask all social, cultural and economic agents, all institutions, including the Autonomous Government of Navarra, and all political parties, to take responsibility for defending the right of the citizens of Euskal Herria to know and use Euskera and to adopt the measures required in the interests of said objective; to take real steps towards the normalization of Euskera, which may guarantee its learning and encourage its use.

3. Euskera is a synonym for quality and plurilinguism, features themselves of a European society that is modern, open and developed. In this new millennium, in a globalized world, all languages and cultures must have their place. Ours, Euskera, too. Linguistic and cultural plurality is enriching for all.

4. Euskera, the historical heritage of Euskal Herria, belongs to all and it is the duty of all of us to do what we can to safeguard it, provide impetus to it and develop it.




Pamplona-Iruñea, on the 3rd of April 2003