On 8 January, the prefect of Pau decided to close the steps linking Navarra, Baja Navarra and Zuberoa for the alleged threat of possible terrorism. Since then, the steps of Iturzaeta and the stone of San Martin remain closed.

Last July from the municipalities, councils and assemblies of the valleys of Roncal and Salazar the Government of Navarra was asked to address the issue so that it could do something to reopen these steps. However, the only answer they received was that “the topic would be studied.”

The organizers of the event have denounced that this fact has had a serious impact on the daily life of the inhabitants of the valleys of Roncal and Salazar and of Zuberoa: “We have been conditioned by cultural and economic relations between the citizenship of the three areas of life, and above all, family relations have been trampled underfoot.”

At the event to be held on Sunday in Iturzaeta, the Prefect of Pau, the representative of the French State, will denounce that he disregards both the citizens and the institutions for relations between the Basques.

Among other things, they call on the Government of Navarre and the Commonwealth of Iparralde to defend the right to movement of citizens on both sides of the border, and call on the prefect to suspend the closure of the steps. “We do not accept the ban on transit through the Basque Country and say aloud that we will not respect it because it violates fundamental rights.”

Roncal, Salazar and the institutions of Zuberoa will demand this Sunday the rapprochement between the citizens, agents and institutions of Zuberoa to create networks of relationships and promote joint work.

The programme shall be as follows, provided that weather conditions permit: The meeting and reading of the manifesto will take place at 12:00 in the Euskalduna Palace. Next, a popular meal will be held at the Irati-Abodi Mountain Centre, in which musicians will participate.