April 22, 2010
Washington, April 21 (Jiji Press) -- The U.S. Department of Defense on Wednesday expressed its strong expectation for the Japanese government to finish reviewing its accord with the United States on the relocation of a key Marine base in Okinawa by the end of May.
"We're anxiously awaiting the completion of their review," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told a press conference.
When asked if there has been any progress in the Japanese work to find an ultimate solution to the issue of where to relocate the Futenma air station in the southernmost Japanese prefecture, Morrell pointed out that Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama "had always said that it would not be until May that he were to complete his review."
Noting that the U.S. side has nothing new to announce on the matter, he said the Pentagon "will certainly look forward to talking to them, when they are ready to do so, about this important realignment of forces in the region."
Morrell declined to comment on Japan's consideration of a plan to move the Futenma base's helicopter unit to Tokunoshima Island, northeast of Okinawa.
(2010/04/22-10:29)
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