Gov't eyes weekend meeting with local people on U.S. base issue+

TOKYO, May 14 Kyodo -
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Friday he will likely meet with
''a range of people'' from Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, this
weekend in the prefectural capital in an attempt to break the deadlock over the
relocation of U.S. military functions in Okinawa Prefecture.
His visit will follow a confirmation Friday morning among Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama, Hirano and other ministers concerned that they will continue to
negotiate with local governments and the United States beyond the self-imposed
May 31 deadline for resolving the matter.
''I've heard that there are people who would like to know the government's
views. There is no reason to reject (such a request),'' Hirano said at a news
conference, referring to his planned visit to the city of Kagoshima on
Saturday.
The visit comes after his meeting Wednesday night at a hotel in the
southwestern Japanese city with five local assembly members from Tokunoshima
Island, where he said the government is hoping to transfer some of the drills
-- for roughly 500 U.S. Marines -- from the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air
Station to the island but again met local opposition.
Kagoshima Gov. Yuichiro Ito said at a news conference in Kagoshima that if
there is a request, he is ready to meet Hirano with the three town mayors from
Tokunoshima Island.
But Ito also said, ''No one in Okinawa and Kagoshima knows the specifics (of
the government's policies) so we don't know how to discuss them.''
While the clock is ticking for the government to resolve the base relocation
issue, the premier confirmed in talks in the morning with the ministers
concerned that the government will announce ''the direction'' of how to
relocate the Futemma airfield by the end of May, Defense Minister Toshimi
Kitazawa said after the meeting.
''We will (then) continue to discuss what we have to do with local communities
and the United States,'' Kitazawa said.
The government is also considering providing additional economic incentives to
Okinawa Prefecture if it allows most of the base's functions to stay there,
said Seiji Maehara, minister in charge of Okinawa issues, another participant
in the meeting that also included Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.
''Prime Minister Hatoyama and ministers concerned have confirmed that some
special support measures are needed to express our gratitude,'' Maehara said at
a news conference.
Speaking to reporters in the evening, Hatoyama claimed that his definition of
resolving the issue remains intact, despite his initial pledges to move Futemma
completely out of Okinawa and to reach an accord by May 31 on a relocation plan
with the Untied States and local people.
''The most important thing is gaining understanding from parties concerned''
for a government relocation proposal by the end of May, Hatoyama said. ''In
what form we will do so remains to be seen. I will only say now that we will
reach a conclusion in an appropriate form.''
The chief Cabinet secretary is also planning to visit Okinawa Prefecture in the
near future, People's New Party Diet affairs chief Mikio Shimoji told reporters
after holding a meeting with Hirano.
Hirano's planned trip seems to intend to smooth the way for another visit to
Okinawa by Hatoyama, possibly on May 23, for talks with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu
Nakaima over the base relocation.
In the Okinawa capital Naha, Nakaima reiterated Friday that Hatoyama should
live up to his campaign promise of moving the Futemma functions outside of
Okinawa Prefecture.
''Quite frankly, I want to see him addressing his pledge with a resolute
attitude,'' Nakaima told reporters.
About 460 anti-base campaigners, meanwhile, formed a human chain in front of a
Diet members' office building Friday evening, calling for removing the Futemma
base completely rather than just relocating it, ahead of a planned similar
action Sunday around the base in the Okinawa city of Ginowan.
==Kyodo
2010-05-14 23:15:58


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next