The Basque Country and Uruguay forging closer ties

The President of Uruguay, José Alberto Mujica has visited the Basque Country in order to forge closer and consolidate the ties that have historically marked the relations between the Basque Country and Urguay. Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu, the Basque Premier, stressed that this meeting is an "invitation to bring our two countries closer together, to collaboration and cooperation, so we can growth together". The Lehendakari stressed the importance of visits and relations of this type because, as he reiterated, the future of Basque society lies in reaching out to world, "the future of companies, of our professionals, of the university and technology centres lies in their capacity to share global projects". Lehendakari Urkullu also pointed out that meeting is the "reflection of that open and forward-looking spirit".

Lehendakari Iñigo Urkullu met with the President of Uruguay, José Alberto Mujica, who has travelled to the Basque Country at the head of a delegation from his country in order to forge closer and consolidate the ties that have historically marked the relations between Basque and Uruguayan society. The Uruguayan leader was welcomed at Ajuria Enea where he held a private meeting with the Lehendakari. José Alberto Mujica then went to the Lehendakaritza, where apart from meeting with the Lehendakari and the members of the government, he was welcomed by the Speaker of the Basque Parliament, Bakartxo Tejería, by the heads of the Basque institutions and by the leaders and spokespeople of the parliamentary political parties. This is the first visit of a Head of State since 2007.

Uruguay has a large group of people of Basque origin settled in its territory and believes that 30% of its population are from Basque stock, including President Mújica himself and leading figures from the economic, cultural and political spheres of this South American country, where there is currently a total of 12 Euskal Etxeak [Basque Centres] . Uruguay has the third largest number of Basques abroad, after Argentina and the United States.