Carlos César praises the role of the Azores Air Zone Command

Carlos César stressed on Wednesday morning the “important responsibility” held by the Azores Air Zone Command in the defence of regional interests in several areas.

The President of the Government mentioned “exceptional performance” of that command in areas related to the air evacuation system, the Regional Health Service as well as the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service in addition to the national defence missions which are assigned to this entity.

With the regard to relation with the U.S. forces stationed at the Lajes Air Base – which Carlos César considered as very important in the context of the Defence and Cooperation Agreement between Portugal and the United States – the role played the Azores Air Zone Command was praised by the President of the Regional Government.

“We have stressed that, following the stabilisation achieved with the revision of some aspects of the labour agreement, this new phase has been more stable, productive and expectable, on the part of those involved in this process, and the support provided by Armed Forces, especially the Air Force, to this connection of regional interests has been fundamental,” stated Carlos César.

The President of the Government made clear that, on the part of the Azores, there is always the hope for increasing the cooperation and bringing more benefits for the Region with the use of the Lajes Air Base by U.S. forces.

“We understand that in this moment there are other concerns than achieving a greater economic, social or scientific cooperation, but we have always given the necessary emphasis to this dimension and we have also received help from the Air Force in these matters,” stated the President of the Regional Government.

Carlos César, who welcomed the Commander of the Azores Air Zone, General Teixeira Rolo, at an audience to exchange farewell greetings, emphasised the role played by that general officer and conveyed his belief that the future commander “will consider the same perspective of defending regional interests under that agreement which, in fact, is to defend national interests.”