December 29, 2009NEW DELHI -- Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said the ruling coalition cannot choose a site for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture that is unacceptable to the United States.
"While forming a consensus within the ruling coalition, the issue must be discussed between Japan and the United States. A ruling coalition agreement that ignores the U.S. position is impossible," he told reporters Monday.
The prime minister declared that Tokyo will make a final decision on the relocation site by May 2010 after gaining consent from Washington. "We can't gain understanding from the United States unless we set a deadline."
Moreover, Hatoyama suggested that Washington is unlikely to accept the demand made by ruling coalition partner the Social Democratic Party, that the Futenma base be relocated to Guam.
(Mainichi Japan) December 29, 2009
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