Hatoyama backpedals on coming up with Futemma plan by March+

TOKYO, March 29 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama indicated Monday his government might not be able
to come up with a single proposal for the relocation of a U.S. Marine base in
Okinawa Prefecture by the end of March as he promised earlier, saying it is not
legally bound to do so.
Hatoyama's remarks came shortly after Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada indicated
prior to his talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Washington that
Japan does not have to narrow its proposals down to one before it begins
negotiating with the United States in earnest.
''There is no legal basis on which we must come up with a government proposal
within this month,'' Hatoyama told reporters, backpedaling on his earlier
promise to come up with one by the end of March.
Japan is mulling several relocation site alternatives to an existing plan to
relocate the Futemma Air Station within the southernmost prefecture, with
Hatoyama promising to resolve the issue by the end of May.
Hatoyama said Tokyo will eventually come up with one proposal and do so soon
because only about two months are left before the end of May.
''It may be natural for there to be several proposals at the beginning,'' he
said. ''But there can't be multiple ones as (the government) negotiates and
puts together (a deal) over a government plan in the end.''
The opposition was quick to denounce Hatoyama over his remarks, with main
opposition Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tadamori Oshima demanding
Hatoyama's resignation.
''The prime minister's words change every day,'' Oshima told reporters, adding
that it has led the public and the international community to lose confidence
in him.
''I suggest that he step down,'' the LDP's No. 2 executive said.
The United States has called on Japan to follow through on the existing plan,
saying it is the best option. The plan is part of a broader agreement forged
between Japan and the United States in 2006 on the realignment of U.S. forces
in Japan.
Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Japan envisions calling
on the United States to partly lift restrictions regarding some U.S. military
training areas in and around Okinawa, where local calls for the return of
fishing grounds are strong.
The move is seen as an effort to reduce burdens on the people in the
prefecture, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in the country,
but is likely to run into difficulties because the U.S. side has repeatedly
expressed reluctance over it.
''The fact is that I have received requests, including from the Okinawa
governor, particularly about the partial lifting (of restrictions) on water
areas, including (Area) Hotel Hotel,'' which lies east of the main Okinawa
island, Hirano said at a news conference.
The other areas which Hirano indicated would be up for discussion with the
U.S. side are the two shooting and bombing ranges named Kume Jima Range and
Tori Shima Range.
''These are issues we as the Japanese government will have to demand to discuss
as Japan and the United States work out details between each other,'' he said,
adding that Tokyo will deal with the issues separately from the Futemma issue.
The waters around Kumejima Island and Tori Island, both located about 100
kilometers west of the main Okinawa island, as well as Area Hotel Hotel are
known as fishing grounds.
==Kyodo