President of the Government praises " warm and tolerant" identity of the Azorean people - Communication

Presidência do Governo Regional

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro stated in Ponta Delgada that the Azores have a long history of a "warm and tolerant" identity, highlighting the Azoreans as a people that strive for integration, "dialogue and intercultural experience."

"When I look at the role of immigrants today, I regard it as if it were the history of life in the Azores and of each island," stressed José Manuel Bolieiro. He spoke during the presentation of the book "Transatlântico - As migrações nos Açores" by José Andrade.

In addition to the migrations depicted in José Andrade's work, José Manuel Bolieiro stressed that "tourist mobility is increasingly putting Azoreans in the global world of intercultural experiences."

"The Azores have always been committed to proudly acknowledge the importance of their diaspora and also to participate in the external affairs in which Azoreans are fully involved," the President of the Government said, mentioning, as an example, the context of the Region's "integration into the European Union."

In this Atlantic projection of Europe, José Manuel Bolieiro also pointed out that the Azoreans have always been known for their "hospitality," which has "countered the isolation and loneliness of the islands trend with friendliness." 

Part of Azorean emigration was due to "necessity and ambition," and for this reason, the Azorean diaspora is a story of "success, integration and influence in the host community," said the President of the Regional Government.

"Even today, there are cultural and heritage references in several diaspora communities, such as Brazil or Hawaii," with characteristics that "clearly represent the Azorean identity," he also noted.

With a foreword by José Manuel Bolieiro, the work that addresses migrations in the Azores congregates 50 texts written by José Andrade, Regional Director for the Communities, in the last two years. They contain information and reflections about Azoreans living outside the Region and foreigners living in the Azores.