The President of the Government considered that the meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission held in Washington was "constructive" insofar as the United States presented data indicating more effective and concrete actions for the decontamination process on Terceira Island.

"With regard to the environmental issue, which is the main issue at the moment, the United States presented data indicating a more diligent, concrete and effective action than what has been done so far," Vasco Cordeiro said, adding that it now requires technical and scientific validation.

At the end of the 39th meeting of the Permanent Bilateral Commission between Portugal and the United States of America, the President of the Government stated that, according to information released, the United States has moved forward with interventions in more places that had already identified. The meeting's agenda included, among other topics, the analysis of matters regarding the Lajes Base process.

"So far, this intervention has focused mainly on two sites - South Tank Farm and the Gate of Arms - and the fact is that the information provided by the United States indicates decontamination actions under planning or ongoing in another eight locations" on Terceira Island, sated the President of the Government.

In the context of this meeting of the Bilateral Commission, the information released by the United States points out an improvement in results in the two sites that had already subject to interventions.

"The Azorean Government regards these data is very simple manner: these actions are on the right track as they are the concrete measures we have been demanding for a long time. However, we consider that all the information provided by the United States, either in terms of interventions in new locations or in terms of results indicating an improvement in the existing situation, must be proven from a technical and scientific point of view standpoint," stressed Vasco Cordeiro.

According to the President of the Government, this confirmation is already being made in some cases. As for other cases, it will be provided by the National Civil Engineering Laboratory and, after this validation, the Azorean Government will consider accepting the data now provided.

"There is still a lot of work to be done. Following the declaration that I had the opportunity to issue in December after the Lisbon Bilateral meeting, the fact is that these are concrete, visible and confirmed steps that have taken place within a period of six months. They are aimed at a more effective and concrete approach to the issue of decontamination," said the President of the Government.

As the labour issue and the existence of rumours that were raising some concern, the President of the Government stated that the United States have formally assured that no restructuring is planned at Lajes Base in this area.

Stressing another important aspect related to public information on this process, Vasco Cordeiro had the opportunity to highlight the need for better information on the part of the United States, which should give public notice of what is being done.

"On our part, the Regional Government, we are planning a public session in order to assess the new data released by the United States, not only regarding the environmental issue but also to other matters," announced the President of the Government.

This was be the eight time that Vasco Cordeiro participated in the meetings held by this body, established under the 1995 Defence and Cooperation Agreement, following the U.S. decision to reduce its military and civilian presence in Terceira Air Base as announced in late 2012.