Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As
・The timeframe of five years to the termination of operations of the Futenma Air Station

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question with regard to the termination of operations of the U.S. Forces’ Futenma Air Station within five years. Okinawa proposed to set the start date for counting these five years in February 2014, the month in which the Council for Promoting the Alleviation of the Burden of Futenma Air Station was launched. Okinawa seems to be under the belief that the Government also shared this view. However, during this morning’s press conference, the Minister of Defense expressed a view to the effect that the Government had not decided on the start date. What is your view regarding this matter?     

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Basically, the termination of operations of Futenma within five years was a promise made between the Government and Governor Nakaima last year, and the “five years” timeframe was included as part of this at that time. We are therefore making efforts to fulfill this promise. That is the bottom line.

REPORTER: Sorry, but if I may confirm, is it then correct to understand that February 2014 is the start date?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Putting the question of the starting date to one side, in any case, we allocated a budget from that point in time. Is the starting date then the date that the budget will be finalized? I think there are various ways of conceiving the starting date. I consider there not to be a significant difference regardless of the dates.