The Embassy of Uruguay, together with the Hispanic Association of The Hague, co-organized an event dedicated to the work of Uruguayan writer Cristina Peri Rossi, winner of the prestigious International Cervantes Prize in 2021.
The conference was very well attended, filling the room with over 70 guests, including the Ambassadors of Argentina, Chile, and Costa Rica, as well as diplomats from the Embassies of Venezuela, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and El Salvador. Among the attendees were Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the United Nations Residual Mechanism, and Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, Director of Diplomat Magazine.
The keynote speaker was Gabriel Inzaurralde, a prominent Uruguayan professor of Latin American literature at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
The event opened with remarks from Ambassador Álvaro González Otero, who emphasized the importance of encouraging cultural dialogue as a cornerstone for promoting international peace. “Wars are born in the minds of men, and it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed,” he said, quoting the UNESCO Constitution.
Ambassador González Otero also highlighted the remarkable career of Cristina Peri Rossi and expressed gratitude to Professor Inzaurralde. He gave special recognition to the Hispanic Association of The Hague for its continuous efforts to promote the Spanish language and Latin American culture in the Netherlands.
“In the same vein,” said the Ambassador, “I wish to highlight the tremendous work of our dear Edith Bergansius, President of the Hispanic Association of The Hague. Her tireless dedication is fundamental for the promotion of Hispanic culture in the Netherlands. For over three decades, Edith has championed a wide variety of cultural and educational activities.” Bergansius has been the recipient of significant awards, including one from the Embassy of Spain and another from the Mayor of The Hague, on behalf of the King, marking the centenary of the association and recognizing her presidency since 2006.
Professor Inzaurralde, delivering his tenth conference on Latin American writers for the association, offered a thorough and engaging analysis of the life and works of Cristina Peri Rossi. Born in Montevideo in 1941, Peri Rossi has lived in exile in Spain since 1972 following the rise of the dictatorship in Uruguay at the time. True to his engaging lecture style, Professor Inzaurralde involved the audience in a dynamic exploration of Peri Rossi’s career, personal journey, and literary works, including La nave de los locos. Thought-provoking discussions arose: How did exile and her sexuality influence Peri Rossi’s life? Would these same conditions impact a writer today? Can exile, love, and memory coexist in our contemporary world?
According to the World Bank, the ambassador quoted in his speech, Uruguay stands out in Latin America for being an egalitarian society, for its high per capita income and for its low poverty levels. In relative terms, its middle class is the largest in the Americas and the Caribbean and represents 60% of its population. It is known for being the country of the mato, for the excellence of its meats and wines, and for being the place where the first soccer world cup was held and for having the longest carnival in the world”. He closed his speech by inviting those present to visit Uruguay.
The event concluded with a lively reception, where the Embassy of Uruguay treated attendees to empanadas, alfajores, and Uruguayan wines. The gathering provided an excellent opportunity for participants to share reflections and express appreciation for both the Embassy of Uruguay and the Hispanic Association of The Hague for organizing such a captivating and enriching event.
