The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated in Ponta Delgada that the "guiding line" of the strategy to strengthen "Azoreanity" in Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, involves the dissemination of culture and education.
 
"The strategy goes through education, the presence of the Azores in schools and the dissemination of Azorean culture," said Rui Bettencourt. He spoke at the end of a meeting with the President of the Santa Catarina Cultural Foundation, Ana Lúcia Coutinho, and the Superintendent of the "Franklin Cascaes" Cultural Foundation in Florianópolis, Roseli Maria Pereira.
 
Rui Bettencourt emphasised that the State of Santa Catarina is "particularly important because it is home to Azoreans and a place with strong ties to the Azores," stressing that they are "fourth, fifth and sixth-generation Azoreans" and some even "descend from Azoreans who settled here 270 years ago."
 
"What is quite interesting in the State of Santa Catarina is the fact that these Azoreans desire are proud to be Azoreans," said Rui Bettencourt.
 
According to government official, "there is an aspect that needs to be reinforced," which concerns the economic exchange issue, especially in tourism as well as in other areas of the economy. Nevertheless, he stressed that the cultural identity of Azoreans "is of paramount importance."
 
"I was very pleased to hear both leaders saying there is a general trend in society and not isolated situations. In fact, there is a movement in society towards the affirmation of ties to the Azores, especially among young people," Rui Bettencourt said, noting that the situation is "very interesting." According to him, this topic was addressed at the meeting as well as the strategies for the implementation and strengthening of "Azoreanity" in Santa Catarina.
 
The Regional Secretary recalled that the President of the Government of the Azores visited last year this Brazilian state, which declared 2018 as "the Year of the Azores" and celebrated the 270th anniversary of the arrival of the first Azoreans in Santa Catarina. As he emphasised, this state "embraces what is to be Azorean with its strong ties to the Azores and its deep-rooted love for the Azores."