April 26, 2010
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Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano has reiterated that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is working hard on the issue of the US Futenma air base in Okinawa based on the idea that it should be moved outside the prefecture.
Hirano made the remark in a meeting in Tokyo on Monday with the mayor of Naha City and non-partisan members of the Okinawa prefectural assembly who delivered a resolution adopted in a rally in the prefecture on Sunday.
The resolution urges the Japanese and US governments to abandon the current plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa, and move the base out of Okinawa, or Japan.Hirano told the delegates that it is the government's desire to ease the burden on the people of Okinawa and have the US military base land returned to the prefecture.
Hirano added that it is important for all Japanese to share the burden of Japan's security and that Prime Minister Hatoyama is working hard on the relocation issue based on this stance.
After the meeting, Naha City Mayor Takeshi Onaga told reporters it is regrettable that a concrete plan has still not emerged. He added that he will keep an eye on future developments with the faith that Hatoyama will keep his pledge.
2010/04/26 20:38(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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