June 23, 2010
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Prime Minister Naoto Kan says even if details of the plan to relocate a US Marine air base in Okinawa are worked out, the government will not immediately begin construction work.
Kan told reporters in Okinawa on Wednesday that his administration will continue to uphold the Japan-US agreement on moving the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Japan's southernmost prefecture.
But he added, his administration would simultaneously do its best to ease the burden on the people of Okinawa.Kan referred to the agreement that states that Japan and the US will determine, by the end of August, the specific site for relocation and the method of constructing a new runway.
He said his understanding is that discussions by experts are to end in August but he promised continued efforts to win local support for the relocation plan before construction starts.
The head of the former ruling coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party, Mizuho Fukushima, said that if the government wants to win Okinawa's understanding, it should not decide on the method of construction in August.
Fukushima added that the government has its priorities out of order, and that even if it says it will not push ahead with construction work, it will only be a matter of time.
2010/06/23 18:25(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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