Inouye urges Japan to settle Futenma relocation issue by May
Sunday 24th January, 03:22 AM JST
WASHINGTON —
Democratic Sen Daniel Inouye on Friday pressed Japan to reach a conclusion by the self-imposed deadline of May on the issue of where to relocate a key U.S. military air base in Okinawa Prefecture. Inouye, a veteran Japanese-American senator from Hawaii, said the United States has decided to be ‘‘patient and careful’’ in commenting about Japan’s recent postponement of a decision on the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station.
‘‘But if this matter is prolonged too long, it should be kept in mind that American patience is not forever. There is a limit,’’ he said in a roundtable interview with Japanese media. Inouye also said he thinks the next summit between Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and President Barack Obama can be held only after the Futenma issue is resolved.
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