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 by the Argetine side, the sister city agreement between the localities of Azul in the Province of Buenos Aires and Lumbier-Irunberri, in Nafarroa is expected to be set in 2017 with the possibility of both places naming one of its streets with the name of the other shortly. Further down the road, the institutionalization of the bond will become the framework for cultural exchanges that would enrich both.

Azul, Argentina.   The resolution to create the sister city between Azul and Lumbier-Irunberri is already set in both cities and everything points to it being signed up next year.  This will be a new nomination for this Argentine city that was also distinguished in 2007 by the President of the UNESCO Center Castilla-La Mancha, with the official and institutional naming of Cervantina City in Argentina.

The sister city was especially supported by Azul native Alfredo Dussio Aristu after a trip to Lumbier-Irunberri at the end of last August, accompanied by his cousin Sara Aristu Peralta.  During his stay, the Argentine cousins participated in the txupinazo of the local festivals, and were recognized with a neckerchief form the local town hall, as well as met with mayor Rocio Monclus and counselor, Begoña Gogorcena to set out the details of the sister city relationship.

Sister City Gesture

In a conversation with EuskalKultura.com, Alfredo Dussio Aristo explained that he initiated contact with the town hall in Nafarroa, independent of any institution or personal title, “given my permanent contact with Lumbier and also taking into consideration that I am founding member of the Gure Txokoa Basque Club in Azul, where I have left my mark and feelings.  I also presented a neckerchief from our club to a peña or society there. They welcomed me with much emotion and distinction, and they hung it in a privileged place.”

Dussio explained that the reasons for proposing this relationship are diverse: “the most important is to bring the memory of all of the citizens of Lumbier, the memory of so many who came to this country and left their lives to support the homeland; especially my mother, Lorenza Aristu, who came to Argentina in September 1930 at the age of 15, uprooted, with the joys and sorrows that it brings along with it.  My mother made a family with Luis, my father, who after much effort and sacrifice was able to take her and their kids to Lumbier on their 25^th anniversary.  It was wonderful to see my mother in the house of my grandmother…this marked me for life, and inspired me to the point of writing a song,” he said.

Motivated by this story and the memory of his visits to the village in Nafarroa, Dussio took the first step to create the sister city relationship. It was very well received and includes the naming of a Street in each locality after the other.  In the same way, this direct relationship between the two cities provides the context to carry out future activities and cultural exchanges.

“I am proud of these origins and consider myself Basque.  To be Basque, for me, is to identify with the oak, respect the customs and the culture and trust in your roots, get involved in a cause or a project and don’t fail.  And that tears come to our eyes when we hear the music and the traditions of our ancestors,” Dussio concluded.

Meanwhile, people in Azul and in Nafarroa also became aware of the project.  News of it appeared in Noticias de Navarra and LU 10 Radio Azul broadcasted a live conversation with the mayor Rocio Monclus.  This audio also includes a song done by Alfredo Dussio Aristu dedicated to his family and rooths.