Kan inspects U.S. Futenma base for 1st time+

NAHA, Japan, Dec. 18 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan inspected for the first time a U.S. Marine base in a
densely populated area of Okinawa's main island whose relocation is at the
center of Tokyo-Washington political issues, amid no tangible progress in
arriving at a compromise with local authorities.
Kan also viewed from the air a new site for the Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station on the island's northeastern coast, as well as other facilities
including the U.S. Kadena Air Base and land south of it that is slated to be
returned to Japan.
Japan and the United States agreed in May to relocate the Futenma air base in
Ginowan to a less crowded coastal area in Nago in Okinawa Prefecture.
But strong opposition remains over the relocation plan partly because Kan's
predecessor, Yukio Hatoyama, had raised hopes that it would be moved out of the
prefecture.
''Although there are many differences of opinion, this visit has enabled me to
discuss the issue from now on in a courteous way,'' Kan said at a news
conference after completing his two-day itinerary in the prefecture. ''A big
step has been marked to enhance communication (with people in Okinawa).''
He sought the public's understanding and support for the plan to move the
Futenma base to the Henoko coastal district in Nago, saying it is the most
viable approach for the time being under the current international
circumstances to help reduce the base-hosting burden on Okinawa.
Kan also said it is important for Japan to deepen its alliance with the United
States, even though there are unsolved problems regarding the relocation of the
base.
''I want to visit the United States by the middle of next year...and realize
the release of a joint statement (on the two countries' security alliance,)''
Kan said.
The bilateral security alliance marked its 50th anniversary this year. But
Japan and the United States could not issue a joint statement that they had
earlier planned as negotiations on where to move the Futenma base did not go
smooth until they reached the agreement on May 28.
Kan said the focus of attention should not be placed just on the Futenma base
when discussing the future alliance, hinting at the possibility of preparing
for the statement even without making progress in the relocation.
Kan's trip to Okinawa through Saturday came at a time when he is finding it
difficult to deal with a host of issues from winning support from locals over
the relocation to preventing his Democratic Party of Japan from being split as
a result of a recent internal power struggle involving former DPJ chief Ichiro
Ozawa.
Since taking office in June, it was the first time for him to visit the Futenma
base, which has been used by the United States since the closing days of World
War II.
Kan held talks with the top U.S. military official on the island, Okinawa Area
Coordinator Lt. Gen. Terry Robling, when he visited the Futenma base, asking
Robling to make more efforts to tackle noise problems occurring in its
neighborhood.
Okinawa, occupied after the war and reverted to Japan in 1972, hosts the bulk
of U.S. forces stationed in Japan under a bilateral accord.
Kan said in the town of Kadena, when he met with the press, that Japan's
hosting of U.S. forces for its security should be recognized as ''the issue of
all the Japanese people,'' not just between the government and Okinawa.
==Kyodo
2010-12-18 23:06:43