The President of the Government of the Azores announced in Horta that he has already appointed the representative of the Azores for the Working Group proposed by the National Government that will study the impact of the reduction of U.S. military forces at Lajes Air Base; however he stressed that this group should have already been created.

"It is time take action and not just talk" about Lajes Air Base, after the U.S. Department of Defence recently confirmed the decision to maintain the original plan to reduce its military contingent on Terceira Island," said Vasco Cordeiro at the Legislative Assembly of the Azores.

During the plenary session, the President of the Government revealed that he has already appointed the Vice-President as the representative of the Azores in the Working Group that will analyse, among other subjects, economic matters, structural funds and incentive policies.

"We must be clear. Given the need to create a Working Group, it would have been more useful and important if it had been done before and not now. Now, it is time to take action and the Government of the Azores is working to call the efforts of all parties concerned at a national level and with U.S. authorities," said the President of the Government.

"Are we going to be part of the Working Group? We will. Have we already appointed a representative? Yes, the Vice-President of the Government, as in accordance with the matters to be addressed. Do we think that the creation of this Working Group comes late? We think it should have already been created. Does the Regional have an Economic Revitalisation Plan that is about to be concluded? Yes, it has," said the President of the Government.

Vasco Cordeiro also reminded that during the visit of Prime Minister to the Azores in October, the Government of the Azores proposed the creation of an Economic Revitalisation Plan for Terceira.

The President of the Government also added that until last week, following the announcement of the U.S. decision, the Government of the Azores had no contact from the National Government to move forward with the creation of this Working Group.