PSD, PS and PCP agree that the Portuguese Government should require the United States at the meeting of the bilateral commission scheduled for Wednesday, countervailing measures of economic and social impacts of reducing presence in the Lajes base.
Portugal and the United States meet next Wednesday in Lisbon, in the headquarters of the permanent bilateral commission with the agenda to be dominated by the future of the base of Lajes on the island of Terceira, Azores.
Administration US announced a month ago, which aims to gradually reduce the Portuguese workers from 900 to 400 people this year and civilians and American military will increase from 650 to 165, allowing an annual savings of $ 35 million (29 6 million euros).
The deputy Social Democrat António Rodrigues said to be expected that “there is a notification of the decision of the US administration and a justification for this process, which seemed asleep, has been reissued now suddenly “. To also vice-president of the PSD parliamentary bench, it is necessary that the Government has “a firm position, especially for the evaluation and acceptance of responsibility on the economic and social impact” the Third and the Autonomous Region of the Azores, by United States.
One aspect to consider is the situation of workers who will be laid off, he says. About economic revitalization plan of the Third, a project that the Azorean government presented in January, António Rodrigues considers that this is still an “embryonic stage to find answers to claims” regional, including an annual compensation of EUR 167 million, over the next 15 years to pay for the US administration.
The Portuguese Government hopes that US authorities communicate “the exact terms of reducing the US presence in Lajes, which were not up to now reported to the Portuguese Government, “he told Lusa official source of the ministry of Machete, who explained that knowledge of the US authorities intentions is” of course, important for defining the national position on the global consequences of this decision. “
However, the same source stressed, Portugal is “long working on the trading strategy” that can undergo a review of the cooperation and defense agreement between the two countries, in force since 1995.
Talks on the Lajes not be exhausted, however, this meeting: “This is a moment of a complex bilateral negotiations, which will surely be guided by the spirit of cooperation between longtime allies,” admitted the same source Needs Palace.
For the deputy PS Marcos Perestrello, the government “must assume their responsibilities and take action to defend the national interest, which has not been able to do” . The Socialist, who was Secretary of State for Defence in the second government of Jose Socrates, considers that the decision of the US administration into question “the close relationship between Portugal and the United States” and cause a “strong economic and social impact “in the region.
However, the last two years,” there is no commitment to sign the Portuguese Government in the interests of the country and the region “in order to” try to make contact with the North President -American [Barack Obama] to defend maintaining the US presence in the Lajes base, under the agreement that is established. “
Perestrello maintains that” political and diplomatic irrelevance of the Portuguese Government is to translate -If a very significant loss to the country and the region “and argues that the executive should seek” compensation measures of economic and social disaster that can be seen on Terceira Island. “
For the CFP, António Philip points out that “the fundamental concern is that the legitimate rights of workers and families are protected” by the Portuguese State shall “require that US authorities should assume responsibility” in this matter. On the other hand, must be managed support the economy of the region, “it will need to create alternatives.”
The Communist MP recalls that the United States will not completely abandon the Lajes base, which also entails “a responsibility”.
Lusa tried to get a comment from the parliamentary groups of the CDS-PP and the Left Bloc, which was not possible in time.
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