Basque Lehendakari Patxi Lopez will be visiting the United States next month during the huge Jaialdi 2010 international Basque festival in Boise.
The Basque government announced that Lopez will hosting a reception on Thursday July 29 at the downtown Boise Center. Lopez was elected last year as lehendakari, or president of Euskadi.
Related Euskal Kazeta articles:
Jaialdi 2010 Countdown
Oinkari Dancers Plan Jaialdi Reunion
During the event, Basque Museum and Cultural Center Director Patty Miller will be receiving a Lagun Onari Award, which is given by the Basque president to people who have made significant contributions on behalf of the Basque Country.
There will also be performances by Basque soprano Amaya Arberas from Donosti and the renowned Oinkari Dancers and the Bihotzetik choir, both of Boise. Officials will also show a video of the recent Ellis Island Basque exhibit. The exhibit was dismantled and portions will be on display at the Basque Museum during Jaialdi.
More than 20,000 people are expected to flock to Boise beginning the last week of July for Jaialdi. The festival is held every five years to celebrate Basque culture with sports, dancing and other events.
Ambrose • Jul 26, 2010 at 12:25 am
Who invited Patxi Lopez to attend and show up at the JaiAldi 2010? Mr. Lopez is a member of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) a party that has no intention of seeing an Independent Basque Country one day. He and his party a pro-Madrid, anti Izquierda Abertzale, and in favor of seeing the Basque people subject to Madrid Rule, period. As a Basque American, I am not happy at all to hear he will be at the Jaialdi 2010, so again who invited him and why, person or organization, and for what purpose? Thank you.