U.S. ambassador wants Okinawa issue solved expeditiously
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U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos on Friday urged Japan to find a quick solution to the impasse regarding the future of U.S. soldiers currently stationed in Okinawa.
The ambassador said he felt it is important that the two nations "resolve the current issue expeditiously" at a news conference in Tokyo.
Since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to power in the summer, it has made it clear to Washington that it would like to see a "more equal" relationship with the United States.
The DPJ has said that despite the fact that an agreement was signed by the United States and the former governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), it would like to reassess what is to happen to thousands of soldiers.
Roos also said that the alliance between Japan and the U.S. was to become more important in the years to come.
"Our alliance will be more important over the next 50 years than it was in the last 50," he said.
Roos also said that he understood that the U.S.-Japan relationship was as important to Tokyo as it is to Washington.
"I have no doubt that Japan is absolutely committed to the alliance between the United States and Japan," he said.
Roos was speaking the day after Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) hinted that her party may leave the governing coalition if U.S. troops were to remain in Okinawa.
In response to this, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama reiterated his belief that the issue should be resolved only after the appropriate negotiations and considerations are completed.
The United States has consistently argued that the issue should be resolved as soon as possible and that the current agreement is the best possible solution to the Okinawa problem.
Okinawans have complained for many years about noise pollution coming from U.S. bases and crimes committed by troops. Often, politicians elected in the prefecture take the stance that they would like to see the troops leave the islands.
The issue has caused friction between Washington and Tokyo, and a working group has been set up to try to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
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