Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the second 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 status of the launch  of staging the burden alleviation promotion working group and other matters, as well as the status of the efforts for alleviating the burden of Futenma Air Station, etc.
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
“As was said in the previous meeting of the Council for Promoting the Alleviation of the Burden of Futenma Air Station, I consider the four requests received from Governor Nakaima on alleviating the burden of the bases, which includes the suspension of the operations of Futenma Air Station within five years, as representing the opinions of everyone  the people of Okinawa Prefecture.
I have been taking the lead and advancing initiatives with the basic stance to ‘do everything that the Government can possibly do.’
In particular, it is a critically vital task to remove the dangers posed by Futenma Air Station as soon as possible. We need to achieve results in a tangible manner.
At the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting on April 24, I directly explained to President Obama the requests from Governor Nakaima, including the suspension of the operations of Futenma Air Station within five years, and I requested further cooperation from the United States on the alleviation of the burden placed on Okinawa.
President Obama replied that he wanted to continue to work on alleviating the burden placed on Okinawa.
Today, building on the discussion thus far in the working group, I will explain directly to Governor Nakaima and Mayor Sakima the specific results and state of progress of work in each Ministry.
First, regarding the transfer of KC-130 tanker planes  from Futenma Air Station to Iwakuni Air Station , as a result of much coordination between Japan and the United States, the transfer shall start on July 8 this year, and by August 31, all 15 tanker planes will be transferred.
Today, Japan and the United States have formally agreed that, ahead of this transfer, the Japanese Government will provide the United States Government with the facilities needed for the transfer at Iwakuni Air Station, including aircraft hangers and residential housing.
The Government is very thankful, and extremely grateful to Yamaguchi Prefecture and Iwakuni City for understanding the necessity of alleviating the burden placed on Okinawa and accepting the transfer of the KC-130s.
Next, regarding training and other activities involving Osprey aircraft outside Okinawa Prefecture, we have already begun conducting Japan-U.S. joint training and other activities outside Okinawa Prefecture  with the aircraft since last fiscal year, and we will make further efforts to expand the holding of such activities outside the Prefecture.
In addition, we are steadily proceeding with work to further develop preparations for the training infrastructure and training locations for Osprey aircraft in mainland Japan.
Furthermore, regarding the inter-governmental agreement that would add reference to environmental issues to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement , we are proceeding with intensive efforts, and have already conducted three negotiations, among other activities. We plan to hold the fourth round of negotiations on June 26 and 27.
In relation to the return of the West Futenma Housing Area  scheduled for the end of March next year, today, Japan and the United States reached an agreement on the survey to be conducted by the buried cultural property investigation center  alongside the excavation prior to the return of land, as requested by the local community. Ginowan City will be able to access the area and conduct a survey starting from August 15.
I understand that the aim is to use the lots of the West Futenma Housing Area for an international medical center. The national Government is also exerting every effort toward the return of the land by the end of March next year.
The Government is determined to continue to work as one to realize the reduction of the burden of the bases in a tangible manner.”