The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations announced in Horta today that the Azores will host a "youth gathering from the diaspora communities" this year.

"During 2013, we will certainly pay close attention to the role of youth in the context of our diaspora communities by bringing the new generations of Azorean descent closer to their land of origin as well as to their representative institutions in the diaspora communities," stated Rodrigo Oliveira.

The Regional Under Secretary spoke at the end of a hearing at the Committee on General Policy of the Legislative Assembly on the Medium-term Guidelines, Regional Annual Plan and the Regional Budget for 2013. The government official also mentioned that the Government intends "to promote better understanding, greater interaction and the creation of networks to ensure the continuation of the valuable work carried out by these institutions in the diaspora communities."

Rodrigo Oliveira also stressed that in 2013 priority status will be awarded to the issues related to the social impact of the measures to support immigrants, namely in the "learning of Portuguese language as form of promoting their integration in society and the acquisition of Portuguese citizenship."