- The Torre Olaso Foundation presented this Thursday in Bergara the Laboratorio de Herrigintza Vasca Telesforo Monzón, the cradle of the Abertzale politician Juan Mari Aburto (PNV). The event was presented by the president of the Fundación “Laboratorio de Ideas”, Iratxe Esnaola, and its director, Urko Aiartza, and by representatives of various political, trade union and social actors.
The presentation included representatives of political, trade union and social agents such as Arnaldo Otegi and Maddalen Iriarte de EH Bildu, Andoni Ortuzar and Juan Mari Atutxa of the PNV, as well as representatives of ELA, Eusko Ikaskuntza, Agirre Center, Gaindeustgia, Unidragon University.
"We need new initiatives"
In the presentation they have made in the gardens of the Torre Olaso, they have explained the horizon of the laboratory. "The horizon of the laboratory is a sovereign Basque Country, a reference in social cohesion and solidarity. A sovereign Basque Country that has democratic freedoms, equal opportunities and social inclusion as its axis: that is our horizon," said Esnaola. In addition, Aiartza added that "Euskal Herria needs new lines of work". "We believe that in the context in which we live, we need new initiatives, new tools and new ways of doing to ensure the economic, social and cultural viability of our people and their well-being."
Thursday opens the third cycle
The tower of Olaso was built in the early sixteenth century and was a residence during the twentieth century of Telesforo Monzón and María Josefa Ganuza; in 1982 the Torre de Olaso was created, responding to Monzón's last wishes, and this Thursday the third cycle of the foundation's patron has been inaugurated. José Luis Elkoro, who has participated as a bridge between the second and third cycles, has also taken the floor in the presentation. "For me, the most important thing is his message [Telesforo Monzón], his love for Euskal Herria and the Euskera, his commitment, that is what he conveyed to us. What we want most is for the team that will receive that to go behind; we have confidence, we know who they are and are in tune with the philosophy of Telesforo. We know they're going to go down that road."
By Monzón values
Laboratory of ideas for the elaboration of qualified proposals in areas of strategic knowledge for the development of the Basque Country. Globalisation, identity, well-being and territorial cohesion will be the main lines of work of the laboratory. The new laboratory will also be based on the values that guided the life of Telesforo Monzón. Among these values are "commitment to this people and their people", "openness to the ideas and concerns of the new generations", "rigor, in analysis and explanation" and "creativity".