April 15, 2010
Tokyo, April 15 (Jiji Press) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama reiterated Thursday that he is committed to resolving the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Okinawa Prefecture, southern Japan, by the end of May, a deadline set by himself.
In talks with reporters, Hatoyama stressed that his government will reach a conclusion on the base relocation issue by the time limit as promised.
He added that the government aims to decide on a relocation site by obtaining consent from the United States as well as from local communities that would be asked to host a Futenma replacement facility.
Asked whether he would take responsibility if he fails to miss the deadline, Hatoyama said only that he will do his best.
The prime minister returned from Washington on Wednesday after attending a two-day nuclear security summit. During his stay in the U.S. capital, Hatoyama was only able to hold 10-minute unofficial talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and failed to make any progress on the base issue.
(2010/04/15-21:46)
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