ID :
137302
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 18:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/137302
The shortlink copeid
Gaps remain between gov't and Okinawa over Futenma relocation
+
NAHA, Japan, Aug. 11 Kyodo -
The government reiterated its request Wednesday that people in Okinawa
Prefecture accept the planned relocation of a key U.S. military base within the
prefecture, but differences remain between the two sides.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama visited Okinawa and met with
Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who is opposed to the government's plan and wants the
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station moved outside the southern prefecture.
The government's explanation was ''far from winning our understanding,''
Nakaima told reporter after the meeting. Referring to the current plan for
relocation, he said it is ''almost impossible.''
The governor told Fukuyama during the meeting, ''We have repeatedly said it is
difficult to accept'' the plan, adding, ''We still strongly maintain that
view.''
Frustration in Okinawa stems largely from the about-face on the issue by the
government led by the Democratic Party of Japan, which swept to power in last
year's general election. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned in June
amid criticism over his broken campaign promise to move the base outside the
prefecture.
Fukuyama apologized for the government's having ''caused many problems and
concerns.'' He stressed the position of current Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who
has said the government will make efforts to ease the burden on Okinawa which
hosts the bulk of the U.S. military in Japan, while weighing a recent bilateral
accord between Tokyo and Washington to keep the base in the prefecture.
Fukuyama also expressed the government's hope that it can keep talking with
local government officials in Okinawa.
In May, Japan and the United States agreed that the heliport functions of the
airbase located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan would be moved to the
less densely populated Henoko district in Nago, further north in Okinawa.
The two countries have since held working-level talks and are expected to
complete within this month a study on the specifics of building a replacement
facility for the Futenma base.
==Kyodo
2010-08-11 21:55:02
NAHA, Japan, Aug. 11 Kyodo -
The government reiterated its request Wednesday that people in Okinawa
Prefecture accept the planned relocation of a key U.S. military base within the
prefecture, but differences remain between the two sides.
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama visited Okinawa and met with
Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who is opposed to the government's plan and wants the
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station moved outside the southern prefecture.
The government's explanation was ''far from winning our understanding,''
Nakaima told reporter after the meeting. Referring to the current plan for
relocation, he said it is ''almost impossible.''
The governor told Fukuyama during the meeting, ''We have repeatedly said it is
difficult to accept'' the plan, adding, ''We still strongly maintain that
view.''
Frustration in Okinawa stems largely from the about-face on the issue by the
government led by the Democratic Party of Japan, which swept to power in last
year's general election. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned in June
amid criticism over his broken campaign promise to move the base outside the
prefecture.
Fukuyama apologized for the government's having ''caused many problems and
concerns.'' He stressed the position of current Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who
has said the government will make efforts to ease the burden on Okinawa which
hosts the bulk of the U.S. military in Japan, while weighing a recent bilateral
accord between Tokyo and Washington to keep the base in the prefecture.
Fukuyama also expressed the government's hope that it can keep talking with
local government officials in Okinawa.
In May, Japan and the United States agreed that the heliport functions of the
airbase located in a crowded residential area of Ginowan would be moved to the
less densely populated Henoko district in Nago, further north in Okinawa.
The two countries have since held working-level talks and are expected to
complete within this month a study on the specifics of building a replacement
facility for the Futenma base.
==Kyodo
2010-08-11 21:55:02
