The Regional Assistant Secretary of the Presidency for Parliamentary Affairs defended today the importance of a "stronger presence" of the Azores in the international channels of the Portuguese public television, considering that this contribution "depends on the definition of the future RTP Regional Centre, which is a pressing issue."

"The Regional Government defends a stronger presence of the Azores and the RTP Regional Centre in international channels, particularly in the one that is specifically directed to North America, taking into consideration the size of the Azorean community residing there," said Isabel Rodrigues. The government official spoke at the end of the meeting with the Advisory Monitoring Council of RTP International Channels.

For Isabel Rodrigues, today's meeting was important to confirm the need to define the future of public radio and television service in the Azores, given its potential to disseminate the Azores not only with the emigrant communities, but with wider audiences.

At this meeting, the Regional Secretary also defended that the participation of RTP/Açores in the international channels of the Portuguese public television "should not be limited to the broadcast of programmes, but should also comprehend the production of television programmes that are specifically targeted at Azorean emigrant communities."

As for the Advisory Council, which held its first meeting today, Isabel Rodrigues stressed that this body should "have the necessary operating conditions that are currently non-existent." In this regard, the government official pointed out that the permanent body to be created should include representatives of the Autonomous Regions.