ID :
135913
Mon, 08/02/2010 - 23:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/135913
The shortlink copeid
Kan hints at not finalizing Futenma relocation plan soon+
TOKYO, Aug. 2 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan hinted on Monday at not finalizing a plan to relocate
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within Okinawa in the months ahead,
amid strong local opposition.
Kan said the planned relocation of the air base is one of the major issues for
his Cabinet, in remarks during his first full Diet debate since he took office
in June.
But he said, ''Including securing understanding from Okinawa, I recognize that
several more processes will be needed,'' suggesting that a comprehensive plan
for the relocation will not be worked out before the Okinawa gubernatorial
election on Nov. 28.
The government is currently trying to find ways to transfer the heliport
functions of the base located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan to the
less densely populated Henoko district at the Marines' Camp Schwab in Nago by
2014 in line with the agreement reached by Tokyo and Washington in late May.
Despite the accord, opposition to relocating the base within the prefecture
remains strong among many local people.
''It is not that we will promptly put our decisions into action by starting
construction,'' Kan said, referring to the accord, which also states that
experts from the two countries will complete a study on the specifics of
building a replacement facility for the base by the end of August.
Kan told reporters in the evening he will not push the relocation by ignoring
the voices in the prefecture.
''The situation does not allow me to say by when we will do this or that...I
can only say that we will deal with the issue wholeheartedly,'' Kan said at his
office when asked whether he has any intention to set a deadline for finalizing
a plan to relocate the base.
During a session of the House of Representatives' Budget Committee, Kan said he
remains committed to seeking a public verdict through a lower house election if
the government decides to carry out important tax reforms, such as raising the
consumption tax.
Sadakazu Tanigaki, leader of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party,
demanded that Kan dissolve the lower house as the governing Democratic Party of
Japan suffered a major setback in the upper house election last month.
But Kan said he believes the electorate's strong expectations for the DPJ to
revitalize Japan remain intact and ''about 70 percent of the policies in its
manifesto have moved forward.''
''Given the expectations regarding the change of government, I will run the
government in its current form,'' Kan said.
''I will ask voters to choose a new government through a general election when
the time is right, whether or not it will be when the term (of the lower house)
expires (in the summer of 2013),'' he said.
Kan also said he will stick to his plan to call a general election if the
government decides to raise the consumption tax, currently at 5 percent, or
undertake other drastic tax reforms.
The extraordinary Diet session began Friday, the first since 2007 under an
environment in which opposition parties control the upper house and the ruling
camp the lower house.
The ruling coalition led by the DPJ failed to retain a majority in the House of
Councillors in the July 11 election.
Kan, facing a gradual fall in public support, is seeking reelection as DPJ
leader in a party presidential election in September, and the parliamentary
session, which will run through Friday, is deemed an important test of his
leadership.
The stinging election setback was triggered by Kan's abrupt remarks on the
consumption tax during campaigning, which were widely interpreted by the public
as suggesting a drastic rise in the tax in the years ahead.
During the panel session, Kan chose his words with more care and said he wants
to explore the possibility of launching debate on drastic tax reforms by paying
full heed to the proposals of opposition parties.
Kan reiterated his determination to pull Japan out of deflation in the near
future by turning around its economy, public finances and social welfare
systems.
''We will try to boost economic growth by creating more jobs and then overcome
deflation,'' Kan said.
He said the government will aim to reform Japan's ''economy, finances and
social welfare systems'' when it crafts the state budget for fiscal 2011.
Kan also said he will ask the Bank of Japan to join in the government's efforts
to create more jobs. ''I hope the BOJ will make efforts to the best of its
ability,'' he said.
==Kyodo
Prime Minister Naoto Kan hinted on Monday at not finalizing a plan to relocate
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within Okinawa in the months ahead,
amid strong local opposition.
Kan said the planned relocation of the air base is one of the major issues for
his Cabinet, in remarks during his first full Diet debate since he took office
in June.
But he said, ''Including securing understanding from Okinawa, I recognize that
several more processes will be needed,'' suggesting that a comprehensive plan
for the relocation will not be worked out before the Okinawa gubernatorial
election on Nov. 28.
The government is currently trying to find ways to transfer the heliport
functions of the base located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan to the
less densely populated Henoko district at the Marines' Camp Schwab in Nago by
2014 in line with the agreement reached by Tokyo and Washington in late May.
Despite the accord, opposition to relocating the base within the prefecture
remains strong among many local people.
''It is not that we will promptly put our decisions into action by starting
construction,'' Kan said, referring to the accord, which also states that
experts from the two countries will complete a study on the specifics of
building a replacement facility for the base by the end of August.
Kan told reporters in the evening he will not push the relocation by ignoring
the voices in the prefecture.
''The situation does not allow me to say by when we will do this or that...I
can only say that we will deal with the issue wholeheartedly,'' Kan said at his
office when asked whether he has any intention to set a deadline for finalizing
a plan to relocate the base.
During a session of the House of Representatives' Budget Committee, Kan said he
remains committed to seeking a public verdict through a lower house election if
the government decides to carry out important tax reforms, such as raising the
consumption tax.
Sadakazu Tanigaki, leader of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party,
demanded that Kan dissolve the lower house as the governing Democratic Party of
Japan suffered a major setback in the upper house election last month.
But Kan said he believes the electorate's strong expectations for the DPJ to
revitalize Japan remain intact and ''about 70 percent of the policies in its
manifesto have moved forward.''
''Given the expectations regarding the change of government, I will run the
government in its current form,'' Kan said.
''I will ask voters to choose a new government through a general election when
the time is right, whether or not it will be when the term (of the lower house)
expires (in the summer of 2013),'' he said.
Kan also said he will stick to his plan to call a general election if the
government decides to raise the consumption tax, currently at 5 percent, or
undertake other drastic tax reforms.
The extraordinary Diet session began Friday, the first since 2007 under an
environment in which opposition parties control the upper house and the ruling
camp the lower house.
The ruling coalition led by the DPJ failed to retain a majority in the House of
Councillors in the July 11 election.
Kan, facing a gradual fall in public support, is seeking reelection as DPJ
leader in a party presidential election in September, and the parliamentary
session, which will run through Friday, is deemed an important test of his
leadership.
The stinging election setback was triggered by Kan's abrupt remarks on the
consumption tax during campaigning, which were widely interpreted by the public
as suggesting a drastic rise in the tax in the years ahead.
During the panel session, Kan chose his words with more care and said he wants
to explore the possibility of launching debate on drastic tax reforms by paying
full heed to the proposals of opposition parties.
Kan reiterated his determination to pull Japan out of deflation in the near
future by turning around its economy, public finances and social welfare
systems.
''We will try to boost economic growth by creating more jobs and then overcome
deflation,'' Kan said.
He said the government will aim to reform Japan's ''economy, finances and
social welfare systems'' when it crafts the state budget for fiscal 2011.
Kan also said he will ask the Bank of Japan to join in the government's efforts
to create more jobs. ''I hope the BOJ will make efforts to the best of its
ability,'' he said.
==Kyodo
