The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Horta that the Regional Government "is committed to project the Azores in the world and, especially, in Europe."
 
Speaking at the end of a hearing at the Committee on General Policy of the Legislative Assembly, Rui Bettencourt stressed that "whenever the European Union takes a decision, we will be there."
 
According to Assistant Secretary for External Relations, we must "tell the world" that the Azores have "a strong political project for development." However, "we must also bring the world to the Azores and stimulate in regional debate the discussion of what is to be a European citizen today, what is Europe today, what the world has to offer us, how can we open ourselves and how can we welcome people while accepting our Diaspora."
 
"It is important to have more than one million Azoreans spread throughout the world and, therefore, the Azores are in the whole world", said Rui Bettencourt.
 
"These Azoreans spread throughout the world represent a Diaspora that is very important to us insofar as it values the Azores. This Diaspora brings a global dimension to 'Azoreanity' and evidences the wide scope of the Regional Government's actions around the world," added the government official.
 
"The Azoreans spread throughout the world are the ambassadors of the Azores and they can do something for the Azores," Rui Bettencourt said, stressing that "the goal for the next years is to encourage all Azoreans to take part in the Azorean project as well as in the development of the Region."
 
The Regional Secretary pointed out a series of actions to project the Azores "in the world" for the next four years, particularly in 2017. In this context, he highlighted the opening of the Azores Representation Office in Brussels "that will be ready soon." It will have a permanent team in charge of following all European matters, taking into consideration that 2017 will be "an important year in Europe."
 
Rui Bettencourt also highlighted the creation of the Azorean Council for Internationalisation, noting that "the Azorean society of today has come a long way. The Azorean economic world, the social world, social partners and development agents want to create synergies towards internationalisation and this Council will be able to accomplish this purpose.