「普天間」申請 移設実現へ最大の努力尽くせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 24, 2013)
Govt must make utmost effort to realize Futenma relocation
「普天間」申請　移設実現へ最大の努力尽くせ（3月23日付・読売社説）

The government should make its utmost effort to persuade Okinawa Prefecture to agree to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the prefecture to settle the longstanding issue between Japan and the United States.
　長年の日米間の懸案を解決するため、政府は沖縄県の説得に最大限の努力を尽くすべきだ。

The Defense Ministry on Friday applied to the Okinawa prefectural government for permission to undertake land reclamation work needed for the planned relocation of the U.S. military base from Ginowan to the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture.
　防衛省が、米軍普天間飛行場の沖縄県名護市辺野古移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てを沖縄県に申請した。

The Okinawa prefectural government will carefully judge whether to give permission for the landfill work. As Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has been insisting the Futenma base be transferred outside the prefecture, it appears unlikely for now that permission will be given.
　沖縄県は今後、埋め立ての許可の是非を慎重に判断する。仲井真弘多知事は「県外移設」を主張しており、許可が得られる見通しは現時点で立っていない。

However, the Nago fishery cooperative decided on March 11 to agree to the relocation of the Futenma base to the Henoko district. Local residents around the planned relocation site also show some understanding of the transfer.
　しかし、辺野古移設に、地元の名護漁協は今月１１日に同意する方針を決定した。移設先の周辺住民も一定の理解を示している。

There is no doubt that the relocation of the Futenma base to the Henoko district is the best way to achieve the dual goals of mitigating Okinawa Prefecture's burden of hosting U.S. military bases and maintaining the U.S. military's deterrent capability.
　辺野古移設が、沖縄全体の基地負担の軽減と米軍の抑止力の維持を両立させるための「最善策」であるのは間違いない。

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Much riding on relocation

The government timed its request in the hope of obtaining permission for the landfill work from the Okinawa governor by the end of this year. This is because the government wants to prevent the outcome of the January 2014 Nago mayoral election, the main issue of which will likely be the relocation of the base, from influencing this important issue related to Japan's security. The government's judgment is appropriate.
　政府は、年内に知事の許可を得ることを目指している。辺野古移設が争点となる来年１月の名護市長選の結果が日本の安全保障にかかわる重要問題を左右する事態を避けるためで、妥当な判断だ。

During summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama last month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will promote the Henoko relocation plan. Realizing the relocation will be a critical touchstone to further solidifying the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　安倍首相は２月のオバマ米大統領との首脳会談で、辺野古移設を推進する方針を表明した。日米同盟をより強固なものにするうえでも、辺野古移設の実現が重大な試金石となる。

The government and the ruling parties must make all-out efforts to create an environment that will make it easier for Nakaima to decide to give permission for the reclamation work.
　政府・与党は総力を挙げて、仲井真知事が埋め立てを許可する決断をしやすい環境を整備しなければなるまい。

Most people in Okinawa Prefecture oppose the Henoko relocation plan because of misgovernment by the Democratic Party of Japan under former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who carelessly advocated the unrealistic idea of transferring the Futenma base outside the prefecture or even outside the country. Nakaima, however, originally approved the idea.
　非現実的な「県外・国外移設」を安易に唱えた鳩山民主党政権の失政で、今の県内世論の大勢は辺野古移設に反対だが、もともと仲井真知事は容認していた。

If the reclamation work is not approved, the current dangerous situation of the Futenma base will almost surely become fixed for the long term. Is that really a desirable option for Okinawa Prefecture?
　仮に埋め立てを不許可にすれば、普天間飛行場の危険な現状を長期間固定化することにつながる可能性が高い。それが沖縄にとって本当に望ましい選択なのか。

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Win over local leaders

The government's efforts in the future must provide Nakaima sufficient room to finally give permission.
　政府の今後の努力次第では、仲井真知事が許可を最終決断する余地は十分あるはずだ。

First and foremost, the government needs to widely seek understanding of the Henoko relocation plan among local organizations of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, and the two parties' Diet members elected in the prefecture.
　まず自民、公明両党の地方組織や県選出国会議員に辺野古移設への理解を広げる必要がある。

It is also indispensable to persuade officials of the city government of Nago to accept the relocation plan. The current Nago mayor opposes the plan, but the number of city assembly members who are against the plan is only slightly larger than the number who support it. The governor's judgment will be greatly affected if these forces in the city assembly are reversed.
　移設先の名護市関係者の説得も欠かせない。市長は移設に反対だが、市議会は反対派が容認派をわずかに上回っているだけだ。市議会の賛否の勢力を逆転させることができれば、知事の判断にも大きな影響を与えよう。

The government should have a series of full-scale discussions with the Okinawa prefectural government on the prefecture's future, including how to use sites after the Futenma base is transferred and land occupied by U.S. military installations is returned, as well as regional development programs.
　普天間飛行場や他の米軍施設の返還後の跡地利用策を含め、沖縄の将来像や地域振興策について、政府は、沖縄県と本格的な協議を重ねていくことが求められる。

The government also must work more seriously than ever before on measures to lessen the prefecture's burden of hosting U.S. military bases, such as noise reduction.
　騒音対策など米軍基地負担の軽減策についても、従来以上に真剣に取り組まねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23, 2013)
（2013年3月23日01時45分  読売新聞）