WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2005 _(Kyodo)U.S. President George W. Bush expressed hope Tuesday that people in Okinawa will support the recent accord with Japan on a new plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station within the prefecture and for moving 7,000 Marines out of Okinawa, stressing that it is ''hard to satisfy all people.''
In an interview with news organizations from Japan, China and South Korea ahead of his trip to the three countries starting next week, Bush said he will call for mending the strained ties between Japan and the two nations, especially over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visit to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, through future-oriented dialogue.
Bush also stressed the importance of cooperation among the three countries, Russia and the United States to send a ''consistent message'' of seeking ''tangible results'' on North Korea's dismantling of its nuclear programs before discussing the provision of light-water nuclear reactors.
Delegates are meeting in Beijing from Wednesday for the fifth round of the six-way talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Bush expressed his support on Japan to resolve the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea in the past.
On the economic front, Bush urged the Japanese government to follow through on the independent Food Safety Commission's draft proposal recommending a resumption of imports of U.S. beef, which Tokyo has banned since December 2003 due to mad cow disease.
When he visits Beijing, Bush said he will urge Chinese President Hu Jintao to continue to work toward a ''market-based valuation of the yuan and to address the bilateral trade imbalance by opening up markets and protecting intellectual property rights.
Bush will visit Japan, South Korea, China and then Mongolia from Nov. 15-21 for talks with his counterparts there, including Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Nov. 16 in Kyoto, and to take part in the Nov. 18-19 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Busan, South Korea.
In Kyoto, Bush and Koizumi are expected to reaffirm their commitments to promoting the Oct. 29 interim report on the realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan. The report was adopted at the top security meeting of ministers in charge of defense and foreign affairs.
But Okinawa and other local areas, which will be affected by the agreed realignment, criticized the two governments and vowed resistance.
Asked about the Okinawa realignment, which is the centerpiece of the report, Bush said, ''My message to the good people on Okinawa is, this is a good faith effort.''
''I'm aware that there is some discontent with the agreement expressed by some of the folks on Okinawa toward the Japanese government that negotiated the deal,''
But he stressed, ''It's hard to satisfy all the people all the time.''
Seeking the support of the Okinawa people, Bush said, ''It's an agreement that was not easy to bring conclusion, nevertheless because our relationship is strong and vital, we were able to do so...and it's a positive development.''
The interim report is aimed at easing the burden of U.S. military bases on local communities in Japan, while further integrating operations of the U.S. military and Japan's Self-Defense Forces to transform the strategic bilateral ties into a global alliance.
Highlighting their efforts to seek local support, the report proposes a full set of measures for Okinawa, including a reduction of 7,000 Marines there and an alternative plan for constructing an airport at U.S. Camp Schwab in Nago and on adjacent waters to accelerate the stalled relocation of the Futemma base -- a longtime sticking point.
Asked about the impact on U.S. national interests from the strained ties between Japan and China and South Korea due to the Yasukuni issue, Bush said, ''What I can do is to urge the leaders not only China and Japan to dialogue and to try to get the past behind them as we move forward, but also do the same with the South Korean leader.
Noting that Japan and the United States were ''sworn enemies'' in the past but are now ''sitting down as friends,'' Bush said, ''I think a useful role for me will be to talk about the future and talk about how optimistic the future can be, particularly as nations are able to work out past differences and focus on the future.''
Bush also stressed the importance of the three countries, Russia and the United States in maintaining their cooperation to attain the ''noble'' goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula through the six-party talks.
Referring to a joint statement of principles issued by the six parties in the fourth round that ended in mid-September, Bush said, ''We want to see tangible results in the dismantling of a program and at the appropriate time, we'll discuss the light-water reactor. That's how we interpret the agreement.''
''So part of the reason to go on a trip like this is to remind people about the strategy and to talk it out with leaders and friends, and remind them that we will stick together,'' Bush said.
In the statement, North Korea agreed to abandon all its nuclear weapons and programs in exchange for energy aid and other benefits, while the six also agreed to discuss the North-demanded provision of light-water reactors ''at an appropriate time.''
North Korea maintains that it will give up its nuclear programs only after receiving the reactors.
Asked about North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Bush reiterated his concerns about the North's treatment of its people, especially about a society that he said makes its people hungry, and its forced labor camps.
''I believe that the mark of a good leader is one that cares first and foremost about the human condition of the people who live in the country,'' he said. ''And whether starvation and hunger, the leader's responsibility is to address that.''
At the APEC and especially during his talks with the Chinese leader, Bush said he will seek cooperation and continued dialogue, especially during his talks with the Chinese leader, to deal with bird flu and the potential of a human pandemic.
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