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Portugal says U.S. has "responsibilities" at Lajes airbase

Xinhua, May 5, 2017 Adjust font size:

The regional government of the Portuguese Azores islands said Friday it was positive the United States didn't want to leave the Lajes airbase on the island, but said the U.S. administration had responsibilities.

"It is not enough for them to say they don't want to leave. They have responsibilities that they have to fulfill," said Berto Messias, the regional assistant secretary of the presidency for parliamentary affairs, according to Lusa news agency.

Messias' comments came after the United States said it would remain in Lajes and had recently made an investment of nine million U.S. dollars in projects to modernize the base.

Over the last years, the United States and Portugal have been wrangling over the future of the base, with over 450 civil Portuguese workers leaving due to mutually agreed job terminations.

The United States announced it was downsizing the base in 2012 due to budgetary constraints. However, these plans have been opposed by U.S. lawmakers who say it could affect Portuguese-U.S. relations. Endit