“The geostrategic position of the Azores is crucial. The Azores have always been crucial. During World War II, they were. Throughout the end of the last century, and they are today. Because [the region] has a unique position,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to journalists in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel.
The President of the Republic was speaking on the sidelines of the closing session of the international meeting of twinned cities and municipalities between Portugal and the United States, organized by the Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD), in partnership with the Regional Government of the Azores, as part of their 40th-anniversary celebrations.
In his statements to the press, Marcelo added, “I heard [from both President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump] in two successive terms, in the first term of President Trump, the recognition of the importance of the Azores.”
In his speech, mostly delivered in English, except for the initial period, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa noted that the Azores are for the Portuguese “an evidence of paradise on earth.”
“We know this. Fortunately, many Americans know this, many Luso-Americans know this, many Luso-Azoreans know this,” he stated.
He also noted that the Azores are a paradise because they are unique in location and the diversity of the islands, and he congratulated regional leaders for the “renewal of the treasure that the Azores represent.”
In his address, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also spoke to the president of FLAD, Nuno Morais Sarmento, congratulating him on the 40th anniversary celebrations of the institution – which includes the meeting of twinned cities of Portugal and the United States of America – by recognizing that the theme allows “going to the roots.”
“Those who built local power. I built local power. I was a councilor in Lisbon, the largest municipality, in Cascais, a large municipality, and in the poorest municipality in the country at the time, Celorico de Basto, the land of my roots. And it is truly a brilliant idea to bring together those who represent the people, the populations, and not just the politicians, the businessmen, the economists, (…) and bring together what was a twinning made by Azoreans and Americans,” he said.
The “Sister Cities Summit” took place from Wednesday to today and included an inaugural conference on “Water and the Future of Cities” and cooperation panels on artificial intelligence, economy, society and culture, education, science, and technology.
There was also a moment to honor the 230 years of the U.S. Consulate in Ponta Delgada and a show with FADOalado and the Ponta Delgada Light Orchestra.
The final conference was delivered today by José Manuel Durão Barroso, former Prime Minister and former President of the European Commission.
The program of FLAD’s 40th-anniversary celebrations will also include a commemorative conference on the 30th anniversary of the cooperation and defense agreement between Portugal and the USA and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, on September 18 and 19 in the Azores.
The “International Lajes Conference” will take place in the Ramo Grande auditorium in Praia da Vitória, on Terceira Island, and will also include a performance of the song sung there by Frank Sinatra in 1945.
The twinned cities meeting between Portugal and the United States of America was organized by FLAD and the Regional Government of the Azores, through the presidency of the Government and the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, with the high patronage of the President of the Republic.
