U.S. Voices Hope for Japan's Futenma Decision by May

Washington, Jan. 27 (Jiji Press)--The U.S. government expressed its
hope Wednesday that Japan will make its definite decision on the relocation
of a U.S. base in Okinawa Prefecture by the end of May.

The relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station is "a
fundamental part of the base realignment" that the two nations have agreed
to, U.S. Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell told a news conference.
Morrell also said Washington understands Japanese Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama's timetable to address the Futenma issue by the end of May.
The road map on the base realignment drawn up by Japan and the
United in 2006 calls for relocating the Futenma base in Ginowan, Okinawa, to
the Marines' Camp Schwab in Nago of the same Japanese prefecture.
Tokyo is reviewing the relocation plan since the change of
government last September.
Morrell also said Washington still believes that "the road map is
the best plan for reducing the burden on the island of Okinawa."
The Pentagon spokesman made the remarks after the victory of
Futenma opponent Susumu Inamine in the Nago mayoral election on Sunday.
In a related move, Defense Department officials said Wallace
Gregson, assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific affairs, is
leaving for Japan on Wednesday for a stay until early next week.
Gregson will attend a high-level meeting on the Japan-U.S. security
alliance in Tokyo. He will also visit Okinawa Prefecture to discuss the
Futenma issue with local government leaders.