NAHA, Okinawa Pref. -- Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota said April 10 that he would respect a decision by the municipal government of Nago to approve a feasibility study for a new offshore heliport for the U.S. Marines in northeastern Okinawa.

Ota made his position clear during a meeting with Nago Mayor Tetsuya Higa after Higa said the previous day that his city would allow the feasibility study if a consensus was reached among local authorities and residents.

Higa later said the talks with Ota had been significant and indicated he would formally announce Nago's agreement to the feasibility study after confirming the intentions of fishermen and others concerned, local sources said. During the talks, Higa asked Ota about his position on the feasibility study and regional development in Nago and other northern parts of the main island of Okinawa, they said.