Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba on Saturday promised Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima that he would push for the early return of land used for five U.S. military facilities to the prefecture during bilateral negotiations on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
Nakaima told reporters after the talks that public opposition to American bases in Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan, could change "if the central government moves to resolve the long-standing issue and produces results."
In a separate new conference after the meeting, Genba said that "by producing results, we will try to narrow the difference in view between the prefectural and central governments" over a plan by Japan and the U.S. to relocate U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the prefecture, a move fiercely opposed by local residents.
Referring to the return of U.S.-occupied land in central and southern parts of Okinawa Island, Genba said during the talks that "I would like to make efforts so that it will be realized as soon as possible."
But he also indicated that a certain period of time is necessary for the return, as "procedures such as those concerning the transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa (to Guam) will come first."
Following the talks, Genba visited the U.S. Camp Foster, one of the five military facilities concerned.
The minister exchanged views with Lt. Gen. Kenneth Glueck of the U.S. Marine Corps, who heads U.S. military operations in Okinawa.