The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Ponta Delgada that the strategic position of the Azores, which was reinforced by the journey of Franklin Roosevelt to the Azores 100 years ago and during World War II, remains "extraordinarily relevant."
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the opening session of the 5th Azorean Franklin D. Roosevelt Forum, stressing that it was Roosevelt who "added the political and strategic dimension to the intricacies of History and to the geographical positioning of the Azores." According to him, the Azores of today propose "new centralities arising from two fundamental aspects of this new World."
 
"The first concerns the fact that the Azores have a significant number of characteristics considered to be relevant to these new centralities," the government official noted, pointing out their geographical and geostrategic position as "a gateway to Europe" and "the border between Europe and the United States."
 
"The geographical position of the Azores contributes to their enormous potential - which is already under development - in new areas of activity, as relevant in this New World as in space, science, research and knowledge," highlighted the Secretary for External Relations.
 
Moreover, the Regional Secretary mentioned a second aspect "fundamental to the re-positioning of the Azores' geopolitical position," which concerns the fact that the Azorean Diaspora in the United States reaches one million citizens.  In fact, the Diaspora has "increasingly become an effective economic, political, cultural, intellectual, academic, social and labour force."
 
Rui Bettencourt also considered that the Azores, being an Atlantic region for six hundred years that belongs to a Union encompassing 500 million inhabitants, "affirm their strategic importance and their geopolitical importance." As he noted, they are aware of the important role they must play in the construction of the 21st century."
 
The Regional Secretary also launched a challenge to the Luso-American Foundation, after ten years since the 1st Forum and the "strengthening of cooperation" between FLAD and the Region. This cooperation should be also intensified "in education, culture, training and exchange of young people, science and knowledge."
 
The Forum celebrates the centenary of Franklin D. Roosevelt's visit to Ponta Delgada on July 16, 1918, when he was serving as Undersecretary of State for the Navy. The event involves the participation of several experts, who will address current matters throughout the day, and the participation of Laura Delano Roosevelt, the granddaughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
 
The 5th Azorean Franklin D. Roosevelt Forum, held under the theme "The Centennial of Roosevelt's Visit to the Azores - Transatlantic Relations from the 20th to 21st century," is organised by the Regional Government in partnership with the Luso-American Development Foundation. During the forum, there will be an exhibition on the Roosevelt - Azores connection, organised by Ponta Delgada Public Library, where the event is taking place.