Futenma Base Transfer to Nago Difficult: Okinawa Gov.

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Sept. 13 (Jiji Press)--Okinawa Governor
Hirokazu Nakaima reiterated his view on Monday that it is very difficult to
implement a Japan-U.S. agreement to transfer a key U.S. Marine base within
Okinawa Prefecture.
"I have long said it would be very difficult" to have the base
transferred to Nago, Nakaima told reporters, after opponents to the
relocation plan won a majority in Sunday's municipal assembly election in
Nago, Okinawa.
The election outcome came in line with this view, Nakaima said,
indicating that the result was within his expectations, considering local
opinions.
In May, Japan and the United States issued a joint statement that
calls for moving the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air
station, now in Ginowan, also Okinawa, to the Henoko coastal area of Nago,
in line with a bilateral agreement of 2006.
In Sunday's election, candidates backing Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine,
who opposes the Futenma relocation to his city, won a majority of the
27-seat Nago municipal assembly.

Attachments:
untitled-[2] 1.9 k [ text/html ] Download | View
Delete & Prev | Delete & Next