The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations said today in Horta that the Houses of the Azores and institutions representing Azorean communities in the Diaspora will be encouraged to "play a major role" in disseminating the Region.

"In addition to its core functions in the preservation and promotion of "Azoreanity" (our identity and traditions), which have been successfully fulfilled, these institutions will be encouraged to play a major role in disseminating the Azores of today as well as their interests and potentialities," stressed Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official spoke in the context of a debate on the proposals for the Medium-Term Guidelines and the Annual Plan for 2013.

In order to achieve this goal, the Under Secretary mentioned that the "strategic partnership" between the Region and the Houses of the Azores and the stability resulting from the protocols signed will be "strengthened with additional areas and the identification of new areas of operation."

The Rodrigo Oliveira also stated that the 2013 World Conference of the Houses of the Azores "will be an opportunity to jointly analyse this aspect so that these institutions, in partnership with the Government, may be able to identify and embrace - in accordance to the particularities of the communities where they operate - the contribution that are called to provide."

For this year, Rodrigo Oliveira also announced the organisation of a Gathering of Youngsters of Azorean descent. This initiative is intended to be "an intense training course and an active source in the creation of synergies and ties." The event will be attended by youngsters from the Azorean communities in Brazil, Uruguay, United States, Canada and Bermuda, and by regional youth associations."

Supporting the teaching of Portuguese in the Diaspora communities as well as the celebrations of the 60 years of emigration to Canada and the 250th anniversary of the Azorean settlement in Uruguay, which the Government intends to mark by promoting and supporting the organisation of events in the Region," were other initiatives mentioned by Rodrigo Oliveira.

With regard to immigration, the Azorean Government intends to privilege "a close relation and establish partnerships with support institutions that work directly with these communities residing in the Region.”

For 2013, Rodrigo Oliveira announced the organisation of Portuguese Language courses for immigrants living in the Azores and the development of several projects addressed at schools and youngsters.

The Under Secretary also stressed that the revision of the current "legal scheme to support the promotion of identity, emigration, immigration and student exchanges" will be carried out this year in order to unify and speed up procedures and standardise assessment criteria."

 In the area of European Affairs, Rodrigo Oliveira said that several initiatives will be promoted under the current legislative period "to bring the Azores closer to Europe and disseminate European teams among youngsters."
 
"In 2013, we will promote various activities related to the 'European Year of Citizens,’ particularly among youngsters, including the multimedia contest and celebrations of Europe Day," stated the government official.

Moreover, the Under Secretary stressed that the Region will develop a work "in privileged partnership" with Outermost Regions, through the Conference of Presidents, but without dismissing the possibility "of searching for and working with new partners and networks."

As for the new regional programme to Support Private Media - PROMEDIA III - Rodrigo Oliveira emphasised that the new programme is an "improvement" of previous programmes, particularly with regard to the liquidity of companies and the allocation of support to maintenance of jobs.

The government official announced an estimated public investment of 515 thousand Euros for this sector in 2013. This support measure "evidences the effort and priority given by the Government to this area as well as the Government's awareness of the challenges the media sector currently faces as a result of the negative impact of the economic situation in terms of revenue."

Regarding the public radio and television service in the archipelago, the Regional Under Secretary revealed that the Regional Government estimates to grant an "additional support" of 75,000 Euros this year, "without any impact on the talks with the National Government and the Board of Directors of RTP, in order to ensure a regional public service under the restructuring process of RTP.”

For Rodrigo Oliveira, this government support, which will be awarded during a restructuring process, is "another demonstration of the Government's commitment towards the qualification of technical resources of public radio and television service as well as the reinforcement of the service coverage throughout the archipelago."