April 14, 2010
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada says now is not the time for Japanese and US leaders to discuss details of the relocation of the US Futenma base in Okinawa.
Speaking at the Diet on Wednesday, Okada downplayed Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's failure to hold an in-depth discussion with US President Barack Obama on Monday. The 2 leaders chatted for 10 minutes over dinner on the first day of the Nuclear Security Summit.
Okada said the short duration of the talk is no indication of the state of bilateral relations.Okada also said that for the time being, he and US Ambassador to Japan, John Roos, are in charge of working out details of the relocation.
The foreign minister reiterated the government's resolve to decide by the end of May a specific alternative site for the Futenma base, through consultations with local people and the US government.
Okada said the government can meet its self-imposed deadline regardless of various objections. He noted that even the existing relocation plan, agreed on with the US in 2006, was reached only after a series of talks to overcome local opposition.
2010/04/14 18:06(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
Posts
