The President of the Regional Government described his first meeting with the Commander of US forces at Lajes Air Base, Margaret B. Poore,  as a routine meeting to improve on earlier contacts. 

For Carlos César, the Regional Government, either directly, through the Presidency,  or indirectly, through the representatives of the Azores and the Regional Secretary for the Presidency, meets with the North Americans and discusses matters that pertain to the Azorean representation in the bilateral commission and to the relations of the Region with the Government of the Republic (Central Government), namely, with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence.  

The President said that several themes were discussed, such as the employment situation of Portuguese workers working for the US contingent in Lajes Air Base, the possible use of a deactivated air field or the training of jet-fighter pilots of the United States Air Force. The President said that these matters were merely revisited.   

He added that some of the labour conflicts that merited public attention in past times have evolved positively, especially with regard to part-time work, notwithstanding one or two cases that are still being considered. 

Carlos César said that the "Lajes Air Base provides employment for many people, that it contributes very significantly to the economic development of Terceira island and the Azores in general and that it is for these reasons that such meetings are held."  He added that on the political level it is also important to consider the option of a privileged relationship in the context of the transatlantic policies of our country. 

With regard to the possible reactivation of one of the air fields of the base, the President of the Regional Government emphasised that, after studying the possible use of such an infrastructure by the Region, he concluded  that  "our responsibilities are small and that whatever has to do with national policy must be the responsibility of the Government of the Republic (Central Government) and that the Regional Government can not, therefore, finance this project." 

Carlos César said that the Regional Government politically supports the reactivation of the air field, which will make possible the training of jet-fighter pilots in the Lajes Air Base. 

However, the President said that the Regional Government presided by him has emphasised the need to evaluate attentively the environmental, economic and social impact of this undertaking. The President concluded by saying that  "with this new infrastructure, the geo-strategic importance of the Azores is enhanced."