The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, complained Tuesday did not find any solution to the Lajes Air Base in the ministry and recalled that a year ago to find alternative uses for that infrastructure, which he described as vital.
“I hope I have found a solution in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Lajes Air base. I did not find any,” he said in parliament the head of Portuguese diplomacy, in a reply to Mr Antonio Ventura (PSD) on the future the base, in the Azorean island of Terceira.
the United States announced a year ago a military reduction and redundancies in Lajes, but the process is not yet complete.
“the Lajes is not just a regional issue, it is a key issue from a geostrategic point of view and I think I can convince our American friends that same, “the minister said during a hearing in the committee of Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities.
Portugal has insisted, with the US authorities, that there is “a year to find alternative uses him that the foundation has today,” added Augusto Santos Silva.
the possible use the place to set up an intelligence center “is incumbent upon the US Congress and its administration,” said the minister, who argued that “it is essential to find alternative uses for this vital infrastructure, from a strategic point of view and for economic development and social development of the country, and in particular the Azores, stay “.
During the hearing, and asked about the matter by PSD deputy Sergio Azevedo, reiterated that the strengthening of the north Atlantic link” is a of the purposes of government, “which is included in the executive program and rejected the parliamentary agreement between the PS, PCP and Left block prevent this measure.
” There is nothing in the agreements with the parties enable the parliament the Government and constitute a majority parliamentary base to prevent this reinforcement, “he said.
About the transatlantic partnership partnership agreement of trade and investment, known as” TTIP, “the acronym which is being negotiated between the European Union and the United States, Santos Silva said that “the work is more advanced on the European side that the US side” and should not yet be completed during the term of the current US president Barack Obama.
on the American side, “there are still many barriers to free investment and free trade”, the European position is “more favorable” he said.
“negotiations , which are competence of the European Commission, they have to respond to the need for parliamentary scrutiny, either by national parliaments is the European Parliament, “he added.
According to Santos Silva, remain” many questions “whose clarification is essential so that negotiations can be completed, particularly with regard to arbitration by regulatory mechanisms.
UK in the EU? Yes, but …
In parliamentary hearing, the minister also said that Portugal “will do everything” to the UK remains in the EU, but warned that rejects solutions that jeopardize “fundamental values “such as freedom of movement and the principle of non-discrimination. “We will do everything in our power so that the UK remains in the EU,” said Augusto Santos Silva, stressing that “Europe is not the same without the United Kingdom”.
However, the head of Portuguese diplomacy warned that “any solution can not be called into question fundamental and constitutive values” of the European Union (EU), including freedom of movement, in particular of workers within the EU, and the principle of non-discrimination including on grounds of nationality.
Portugal is available to “help those forces, starting with the British Government, but also the parliamentary spectrum, the House of Commons, and social, economic forces and civil society, which currently battling for a victory of the ‘Yes’ in the referendum which Britain pledged to convene by the end of 2017, possibly as early as this year, “he said the minister, responding to a question from PSD Mr Sergio Azevedo.
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