Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the first meeting of the Council for Promoting the Alleviation of the Burden of Futenma Air Station at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on the establishment of the burden alleviation promotion working group and the status of the efforts for alleviating the burden of Futenma Air Station, etc.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

"I would like to thank Governor Nakaima of Okinawa Prefecture and Mayor Sakima of Ginowan City for coming to the Prime Minister's Office today.
With regard to the four requests received from the Governor on December 17 of last year on alleviating the burden of the bases, which includes the suspension of the operations of Futenma Air Station within five years, I have stated that the basic stance of the Abe administration is to take the requests seriously, to consider them to represent the opinions of everyone in Okinawa Prefecture, and to 'do everything that the Government can possibly do.'  
The relevant ministries have already begun taking concrete actions, including the establishment of a working team, and are conducting negotiations.
In particular, the Government shares the recognition that the alleviation of the burden on Okinawa, especially the removal of the dangers posed by Futenma Air Station until the time of its relocation to the replacement facility, is a matter of utmost importance.
I believe that this Council for Promoting the Alleviation of the Burden of Futenma Air Station, which was newly established at the proposal of the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and the Mayor of Ginowan City, will provide a meaningful forum for making steady progress on this issue. At the same time, I believe that steady progress is something that we must achieve. 
Through the forum offered by this Council and other means, the Government will deepen our partnership with Okinawa Prefecture more than ever before, and undertake concerted efforts to alleviate the burden posed by Futenma Air Station.  
I would like to ask for your continued efforts and cooperation."