Gist of Japan-U.S. joint statement on Futenma base relocation

May 27 10:47 PM US/Eastern

TOKYO, May 28 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The following is the gist of a Japan-U.S. joint statement issued Friday on a fresh bilateral accord on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture.

The two countries confirmed:

-- the Futenma base will be moved to the Henoko area in the prefecture, in line with an existing accord struck in 2006.

-- they will conclude a study by experts on the specific location and construction method of the alternative facility by the end of August.

-- the environmental impact assessment procedures and the construction of the replacement facility will be completed without significant delay.

-- they will study the possibility of moving more U.S. military drills outside of Okinawa, possibly to Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture and Guam.

-- they will verify and validate the experts' relocation study by the next meeting of the countries' foreign and defense ministers.

-- the United States will return to Japan part of a "Hotel/Hotel" water area east of the main Okinawa island, currently used by the U.S. military for drills.