April 9, 2010
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has held talks with US Ambassador to Japan John Roos over the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.
Details of Friday's talks in Tokyo are not available. But Roos is thought to have told Okada that it is too early for the 2 governments to begin working-level talks on a relocation plan.
The Hatoyama government is hoping to soon launch the working-level talks on the issue.
The US side has indicated that the Japanese government has not adequately explained the operational and technical details of the alternative sites being considered.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has pledged to settle the relocation issue by the end of May. His government is studying a plan to relocate Futenma's functions to several sites in and out of Okinawa.
The government's intentions were conveyed to the United States and Okinawa in late March. Officials of the foreign and defense ministries have also offered additional briefings to the US upon request.
2010/04/09 19:40(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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