Thursday, December 29, 2011

US welcomes Futenma report submission

US welcomes Futenma report submission




The US Defense Department has welcomed the submission of a key report on the planned relocation of a US Marine air base within Okinawa Prefecture.

US Defense Department Press Secretary George Little said in a statement on Wednesday that there had been "significant progress".

He said the US will cooperate with Japan in taking the next step of securing the landfill permit for the relocation site from the governor of Okinawa prefecture.

Governor Hirokazu Nakaima opposes the relocation.

The US Congress has not approved the funding for transferring about 8,000 US Marines to Guam from Okinawa as lawmakers say the relocation plan is deadlocked with strong opposition from local residents.

The relocation of the Futenma airbase in a densely populated area to Nago in the same prefecture is a precondition for the transfer to Guam.

Protesters blocked two attempts to deliver the report on Tuesday before officials of Japan's Defense Ministry carried boxes into the prefectural government office at 4 AM on Wednesday. The central government's action has fueled public anger in Okinawa.

Thursday, December 29, 2011 12:39 +0900 (JST)

Please read complete article at link below:
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http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20111229_11.html

KawamotoDragon.com

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