In response to a request by the opposition at the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores, the Government of the Azores reiterates the commitment to build a Cruise terminal in the city of Angra do Heroísmo, following the election promise made by the Socialist Party during the 2008 regional elections for the constituency of Terceira Island, and considered that “this undertaking integrates the future strategy as estimated in the Programme of the X Government of the Azores for passenger maritime transport as well as for cruise tourism in the Azores.”

The Plan for 2009 has allocated the amount of *120.000.00 for the *Study and Project for the construction of the Cruise Terminal in Angra do Heroísmo* and, by resolution, the Regional Government has authorised the signing of a contract between the Board of the Portos da Terceira and Graciosa S.A. – APTG and the Government of the Azores in order to regulate “Construction of the Cruise Terminal in Angra do Heroísmo” by APTG.

The preliminary study of the Project, according to the response to the Regional Parliament, includes an “underwater research to identify the possible existence of archaeological heritage in the place where the new port infrastructures will be built or in the surrounding area.” With this intervention, the Government “intends to preserve the entire existing underwater heritage in Angra do Heroísmo Bay.”

In response to the regional parliament members, the Government of the Azores states that the “Project will naturally comply with the legislation in force, not only for the protection of the archaeological heritage of the Angra do Heroísmo Bay, but also for any other applicable to the circumstances of the respective contract work,” adding that, in this context, “the public hearing of the interested parties in this matter will always be safeguarded.”