The candidature of the monasteries of Suso and Yuso to the Heritage of Humanity from the beginning counted on the support on many institutions, both private and public, a list that grew bigger and bigger when the declaration appeared a reality. Our newspaper not only limited itself to inform people of the events, but it took part in the long process and, to make the union stronger, it obtained the support of important powers in favour of the monasteries. The director of the newspaper, José Maria Esteban, wrote these words in a special supplement on San Millán: "Little by little, it started like a breeze between the walls of the building that shelters Diario LA RIOJA, converting with the time into a strong gale of support". |
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On the 22nd of November 1996 the news of the support to the San Millán candidature from five American Academies was known. Their inclusion was a response to an initiative from the Diario LA RIOJA. |
On the 22nd of November 1996 the news was known that five American Academies supported the candidature of San Millán. A number of overseas countries, Puerto Rico, Chile, Argentina, Guatemala and Ecuador added to the emilianense cause giving it a tremendous push. The response of the academies produced by the initiative of Diario LA RIOJA, that called on those institutions to know regional desires to convert Suso and Yuso into the Heritage of Humanity. The academies made this their wish, and with rhetorical effusive the American speakers supported our candidature. They underlined the push of a language that encompasses individuals born in all the continents of the world: a great vehicle of communication. On the the 9th of March 1997 the Cervantes Institute made public it´s backing of the candidature of Suso and Yuso. The organism that carries Castilian to all the world added it´s worthy name to the very long list of backers. The missive, signed by the Marquees of Tamarón underlined the condition of the craddle of the Spanish that adorned the riojan monasteries. Together with the entity, José Luis Cebrián, delegated councellor of Prisa, and the European Commissioner Marcelino Oreja supported the riojan proposal. |
The list of backers was getting bigger with names each time more illustruous. The Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, the journalist Luis Maria Ansón and the riojan Ángel Martin Municio, president of the Academy Real of Sciences, all wanted success for the emilianense candidature and had no doubts in supporting the recognition of the monasteries as Heritage of Humanity. Amongst so many academic supporters, two politicians were added: Manuel Fragan, president of the Galician government, and Jordi Pujol, president of the Catalan Government, also joined the riojan pledge. In the same way, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo on the 23rd July, received a visit from the president of the community, Pedro Sanz, in Baños de Rio Tobia. The camarlengo reaffirmed his support to the candidature of San Millán and delclared that "with difficulty Unesco could find another place in which there is a synthesis, so rich and so perfect, than that of this Heritage of Humanity. |
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On the 16th of Octobre sixteen monasteries wished good luck to San Millán. All of them influenced by the cultural bonds and history of the emilianense monastery and guarded with joy it´s designation. Santo Domingo of Silos, the Abbey at Cañas, Santa Maria of Paular, the church at Oña, La Piedad de Casalarreina, the monastery of Sobrado, San Pedro de Cardeña or San Jéronimo of Yuste, all recognised the merits of the riojan cadidate. The abbey at Silos highlighted San Millán like "one of the cultural, literary and history centres most embolic in Spain". For his part, the prior of the monastery of Escorial, Fermin Fernandez, drafted a missive in October in which he communicated his support to the monasteries of Suso and Yuso. The collective of editors of daily newspapers (Aede) also manifested it´s support to San Millán with it´s movement to this community during it´s 14th convention. When only one week remained to know the fate of the two riojan monasteries, following the arrival of additional support to the candidature. At the request of Diario LA RIOJA, an association and ten Spanish foundations wanted to add their name to the list of backers gained for the riojan candidate. |
