The US consulate in the Azores celebrates 225 years of history. This ephemeris is marked today, but in a different way than initially foreseen, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. How will this date be celebrated?
The consulate has some events scheduled for today. We will visit the tomb of Thomas Hickling, the first consul in Ponta Delgada, at the English Cemetery. We are also working with the City Hall of Ponta Delgada to have the City Gates lit in red, white and blue on our anniversary day. We will also have banners around the city with greetings signed by several personalities, such as Devin Nunes, the US Ambassador to Portugal, George E. Glass, or the President of the Regional Government. The twin town of Ponta Delgada, Fall River, will be associated with these celebrations as well, by lighting up the replica of the City Gates in red, white and blue.
Also on RTP Açores there will be a special program tonight.

Initially a more extensive program was planned, but it had to be reduced due to the pandemic.

The initial plan was for the US Ambassador to Portugal to travel to all the islands of the Azores during the month of May in order to highlight the educational as well as cultural exchanges that we share due to our long history. Unfortunately, all visits had to be cancelled, but we hope to find a way to carry out this program.

Historically the Azores have always had a great relationship with the USA. How do you see the future of this relationship?
The history between the United States and the Azores will always exist and can always be developed. One of the things I really enjoyed seeing this year was the Fulbright program that sent students from the Azores to the US and from the US to the Azores, showing how we can work together. The changes that are happening in the hospitality industry should be taken advantage of. Every year we notice that US tourism in the Azores is growing, and although Germany always overtakes us, we are very close to becoming the destination that brings the most tourists to the Azores, after Mainland Portugal. Therefore, exchanges with tourism-related training schools will be greatly beneficial, not only for American students but also for Azoreans.

In the future, could this consulate become an honorary consulate?
I do not believe that will happen. But if it happens I will return to the Azores to be the honorary consul (laughs). I have been exchanging messages with ambassadors and some Assistant Secretaries of Defense and everyone was very proud that this is the oldest continuously operational consulate in the world and everyone expressed their congratulations. I believe we were the first to arrive and we will stay here.

The Azoreans take great pride in their geostrategic position. Is it still relevant?
That importance remains. The Azores are located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between the US and Europe, and I don't think there is a more strategic position. I am not just taking the 225 years of history that bind us together into account: think how important the Azores still are to US citizens. An example would be the ships that cross the ocean and need help and that are supported by the Portuguese Navy. But also medical emergencies on board of planes that then land in Lajes. These are small examples that illustrate the geostrategic importance of the archipelago and why it will never cease to be important. The archipelago is on the route between the United States and Europe, and Europe and NATO are among our greatest allies.

Do you believe that our importance goes beyond the Lajes Base?
Yes. People always think our relationship is down to Lajes. The Base is important, but that is not all. We have about 160 Air Force troops and 400 more Portuguese working there, but the Azores are also the only region with a full-time diplomat, which shows the importance and esteem that the USA have for this relationship. This is evidenced by the fact that they recently changed my service committee from two to three years, which shows that they want a consistent relationship, so that the Government of the Azores and the population feel that we want to continue here.

It is impossible not to ask about the future of Lajes. What could happen?
A study is currently underway on staffing needs, which is causing doubts among the residents of Terceira. This study aims to check whether the base employees are working in positions that are justified, which does not mean that at the end of the study people will be dismissed. What we want to check is the work that is being done, whether if in one section people are overworking while in other there is less work, and whether it is necessary to change people in order to balance the situation. I can say that there are no plans to expand the Lajes Base, but at the moment there are no plans to reduce it either. I think the US is satisfied with the size of the base at the moment and this will continue for the foreseeable future.

Another issue is soil decontamination, what is the current situation?
When Ambassador George E. Glass arrived in Portugal, there were 19 sites being analysed, which had been signalled by the United States and Portugal, through the Bilateral Commission. And since Ambassador George E. Glass arrived in Portugal the number of sites has already been halved and there is a plan to reduce them to six in the short term. But there is still work to be done and the Ambassador has been very committed to addressing this situation. Although this is not my area of competence, I can reveal that there is a plan for US and Portuguese environmental experts to meet, preferably in person, and together analyse the existing data and what still needs to be done. It seems to me that this is a good solution, although it may not please everyone, but this is a good step.

How is the protocol with the University of the Azores proceeding?
That partnership is going very well. Just last week we met with the University to discuss new actions to be taken next year. And just the other day I was with a Fulbright English teacher who spent a year in the Azores and who told me how she enjoyed being here and felt safe, even with the Covid pandemic. More exchanges of this kind are planned, and more scholarships from this program have already been awarded this year. It is an excellent opportunity both for students here and for Americans because it allows them to create new knowledge. We intend to maintain the American Corner and the strong relationship with the University.
The Azorean population emigrated in the USA is quite large. How is this population seen in the USA?
The Portuguese community in the USA is a community that is proud of its origin and wants to make a difference. There are very prominent politicians of Portuguese origin who are proud of their past, which is really positive.

Do Azoreans show great interest in the United States?
There are still many American citizens who have returned to the Azores and who, as soon as their children are born, come to the Consulate to register them as Americans, because they want them to have that option. It is always good that a child has different opportunities.

And Americans in the Azores, how many are there?
In the Azores there are many people with dual nationality but, as it is not mandatory to declare it, I cannot tell you the exact number of Americans in the region. And that may be one of the reasons why the number of American tourists in the Azores is not higher, as many people enter the Azores with Portuguese passports. Still I think the number of Americans in the Azores is growing and more and more people without any connection or Portuguese heritage are moving here. Many of the North Americans who are choosing the Azores came here on their honeymoon or on a holiday and liked it so much that they decided to move, to buy properties here. I know of a couple who just last week got residence in Portugal, which is a source of great pride.

How can you describe these people?
They are couples with school-aged children, although they do not know how to speak Portuguese. They are people who enjoy living here, who like the security that it guarantees to their children and who value tranquility. As a mother I understand this decision, because there should not be any other place in the world as safe and quiet as the Azores. Besides, it is a beautiful place.

You have been US Consul in the Azores since July 2019. How has the experience been?
I love being here, so much so that we decided to buy a house in São Miguel. Therefore, when we retire, we can spend the summers here. It is a magical place. Every time we walk around the island, we lose sight of the ocean for a few minutes, but then it comes back and that's very beautiful.