President of the Government received Committee on National Defence of the National Assembly
The President of the Government received Tuesday the Committee on National Defence of the National Assembly. Vasco Cordeiro took the opportunity to inform members of the Parliament on the Lajes Base process and made a very positive assessment of the mission carried out by Armed Forces in the Region.
"I had the opportunity to convey our perspective on the various components of the Lajes Air Base process," at an environmental and economic level, following the U.S. decision to reduce its civilian and military presence on Terceira Island, said Vasco Cordeiro.
Speaking to journalists, the President of the Government added that the work developed with the National Government under the Plan for the Economic Revitalization of Terceira Island (PREIT) was also presented during the meeting.
In this regard, he pointed out, among other examples, the low-cost flight operations on this island, the ongoing certification of Lajes Base for permanent use by civil aircraft and the application of Praia da Vitoria Port to the so-called Junker Plan.
"I would also like to make public note that I have conveyed to the Committee on National Defence the exceptional role played by Armed Forces in our Region and that this role is especially visible in the assistance to the people, often in moments of great distress, such as natural disasters and medical evacuations," said Vasco Cordeiro.
"Unfortunately, in our most recent history, there have been several events in which the Armed Forces - Army, Air Force and Navy - responded promptly and provided an invaluable contribution for the support and help to the populations," said the government official.
According to the President of the Government, this was a productive and useful meeting, on the one hand, for the fact that the members of the Committee on National Defence are well informed on these issues and, on the other hand, for allowing the exchange of views on the Regional Government's perspective regarding these matters.