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The Prime Minister in Action
Memorial Ceremony to Commemorate the Fallen on the 72nd Anniversary of the End of the Battle of Okinawa
June 23, 2017
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the Memorial Ceremony (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister offering a flower at the Memorial Ceremony (1)
Photograph of the Prime Minister observing a minute of silence at the Memorial Ceremony
Photograph of the Prime Minister offering a flower at the Memorial Ceremony (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister delivering an address at the Memorial Ceremony (2)
Photograph of the Prime Minister offering flowers at the Shimamori Monument
[Provisional Translation]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Memorial Ceremony to Commemorate the Fallen on the 72nd Anniversary of the End of the Battle of Okinawa, held in Okinawa Prefecture.
The Prime Minister offered flowers at the National Cemetery for the War Dead in Okinawa, and then, during the memorial ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park, observed a minute of silence at noon. Following this, the Prime Minister offered a flower and delivered an address. Finally, the Prime Minister offered flowers at the Shimamori Monument.
After offering the flowers, the Prime Minister made the following statement in response to a question regarding the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma,
“Impact mitigation of the U.S. forces in Okinawa is the important responsibility of the Government. The Government will continue to exert our full efforts to this end.
We must avoid indefinite use of MCAS Futenma, which is located in the center of an urban area surrounded by residential buildings and schools.
We have to realize the full return of MCAS Futenma as soon as possible. I am sure that both the Government and Okinawa Prefecture share this same desire. It calls for the Government and the Prefecture to cooperate and make joint efforts to achieve this.
The Government will deal with the situation in good faith in accordance with last year’s settlement.”
“This settlement was agreed on in the spirit of cooperation and joint effort. The Government will continue to deal with the situation in good faith in accordance with last year’s settlement.”
