The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stated today that the visit of the Premier of Bermuda to the Azores opened "a new phase in the relation and institutional proximity between both territories," stressing that it is also "a source of great satisfaction for the Azorean community in Bermuda.”
 
Rodrigo Oliveira spoke after exchanging farewell greetings with Michael Dunkley on behalf of the President of the Government. According to him, "the main goals of the visit and the invitation made by the President of the Government in 2015 have been met."
 
In this context, the government official highlighted the fact that this visit provided "a direct knowledge of the reality of the Azores of today in several areas, highlighting the main sectors of the regional economy to the common challenges and opportunities for archipelago regions: use of endogenous resources, use of new technologies, sustainable tourism and cooperation at scientific level, notably in the field of marine sciences."
 
"This visit also allowed to show the human dimension of history, the experiences and the culture of the Azorean People, especially in the last part of his visit when he visited the island of Pico. He had the opportunity to see the often difficult relation that human beings have established with the territory that shaped the land where grapes grow and is now classified as World Heritage. This relation is also embodied in the strong connection to the sea, which has reinvented itself many times, as evidenced by whaling activities," said Rodrigo Oliveira.
 
On Wednesday afternoon, the Premier of Bermuda travelled to the island of Pico, where he visited the Wine Museum, the Vineyard Culture Landscape classified as World Heritage and the Whaling Museum.
 
Michael Dunkley visited the Azores accompanied by Trevor G. Moniz, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Derrick S. Binnsm, Head of the Civil Protection Service, and Kimberley Durrant, London Office. He ended today his visit to the Azores that was made at the invitation of the President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The visit included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the relation between both governments; the Premier of Bermuda visited the islands of São Miguel, Faial and Pico.