Japan Press Weekly

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2011 October 19 - 25 [OKINAWA]

Nago mayor requests retraction of plan for US base construction to foreign minister

Okinawa’s Nago City Mayor Inamine Susumu on October 19 urged Foreign Minister Genba Koichiro to withdraw a plan to construct a new U.S. base in the Henoko district of the city.

At the start of their meeting, the mayor told the minister, “Please be aware that, no matter what it takes, I am determined to stick to the promise I made with my residents to block the construction of a new base either on the ocean or on the land of Henoko.”

“Please take a close look at Okinawa’s situation with your own eyes, listen to Okinawans’ voices, and request the U.S. government to review the Japan-U.S. agreement and scrap the relocation of the Futenma base to Henoko,” Inamine added.

Foreign Minister Genba, who visited Nago City for the first time since taking office, replied to Inamine by saying, “Our basic idea is to promote the Japan-U.S. agreement. I would like to continue the talks we started today.”

After the meeting, Inamine commented, “I have no intention to negotiate with the national government. Since I have pledged that I will not allow the construction of the base either on our ocean or land, there is no way for me to discuss ideas about how to build the base.”

Later on the same day, the foreign minister met with Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu at the prefectural building. While stressing his support for the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the governor called for the relocation of the U.S. Futenma base outside Okinawa.