The President of the Government stressed today the planned hiring of about 70 Portuguese workers who make up the new staff of the US military detachment at Lajes Air Base and the fact the work contract terminations follow the procedures of mutual agreement; there will not be any outright redundancy.
Vasco Cordeiro participated in the 35th meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission of the Cooperation and Defence Agreement between Portugal and the United States, held in Washington. Among other issues, it addressed the resizing process of US forces at Lajes Air Base.
At this meeting, the President of the Government stressed the relevance of the Weather Radar installed in Santa Bárbara, Terceira Island, defending the need to transfer its operation to the National Government in order to ensure the safety of people and goods.
As for the environmental component, Vasco Cordeiro defended the need for the United States to "do more and faster," not only to ensure the full cleaning and mitigation in the already known areas but also to prevent future environmental impacts.
In regard to the economic situation arising from the US decision to reduce its presence at Lajes Air Base, the President of the Government warned that the impacts continue to be felt on Terceira Island, which justifies the adoption of measures by the USA.
As it had been defended by the Government of the Azores, and although it was not addressed at the meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission, there is an ongoing work to prepare a proposal for revision of the Cooperation and Defence Agreement currently in force.
This was the fourth time that Vasco Cordeiro attended a meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission since the United States announced the reduction of its military and civilian presence at Lajes Base.
Established by the Cooperation and Defence Agreement between Portugal and the USA in 1995, the Permanent Bilateral Commission is the body responsible for the implementation of that agreement and the promotion of cooperation between both countries.