Report from Jon Ander Musatadi, Manager of JAM&MBA Global
On November 28, the first Mayors for Peace event in Basque Country, Spain, was celebrated in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital city of the Country. The meeting was held in the headquarters of the Basque President’s office, gathering 15 mayors in the region. The purpose of the event was to introduce the activities of Mayors for Peace and invite more mayors in the area to join the network.
Mayors and vice mayors from the following 15 cities participated in the event: Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, San-Sebastian, Arrasate-Mondragon, Galdakano, Getxo, Basauri, Portugalete, Abanto-Zierbana, Irun, Llodio, Hernani, Otxandio, Durango and Elgoibar. There were also representatives from EUDEL, an association that gathers the 251 mayors of the Basque Country. While some of the mayors who are actively involved in peace projects, such as the City of Guernika-Lumo, were not able to attend due to other commitments, EUDEL will share information about the event to all its members and invite them to join Mayors for Peace.
The meeting was opened by two representatives from the central Basque Government: Jonan Fernandez, General Secretary of Peace and Mediation, and Monika Hernando, General Director of Peace and Human Rights. Then the participants were presented with a video message from Yasuyoshi Komizo, Secretary General of Mayors for Peace, followed by a presentation by Jon Musatadi, who is the manager of a local consulting firm working with the Basque Government. He introduced Mayors for Peace and also talked about his recent work related with the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The final speaker was Mayor Josep Mayoral of Granollers, a vice president of Mayors for Peace and also a lead city representing the Catalan Chapter of Mayors for Peace, who gave a very meaningful speech about Granoller’s initiative in peace and nuclear disarmament.
Video message from Secretary General of Mayor for Peace
From left to right:
Mayor Mayoral, Mr. Musatadi, Ms. Hernando,and Mr. Fernandez
Presentation by Mayor Mayoral of Granollers