Shiozaki, Nakaima to hold talks on Futenma relocation

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said Tuesday he will hold talks with Okinawa Gov.-elect Hirokazu Nakaima next week in Tokyo.

The talks are expected to focus on the contentious issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to a camp farther north on Okinawa Island.

The top government spokesman said he will exchange views with Nakaima during the new governor's visit to Tokyo.

Nakaima, elected Sunday, said the next day he will deal "flexibly" with the Futenma issue and promote dialogue with the government.

Shiozaki is expected to call for an early resumption of talks on the base issue by a consultative body made up of representatives of the central government and the prefecture, as well as other local authorities in Okinawa.

Nakaima was backed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner New Komeito in the election but said he would not accept the government plan to build runways forming a V-shape on a new airfield to be built on existing land and landfill at Camp Schwab in Nago.

However, he had said that moving the Futenma base within Okinawa is unavoidable because of the difficulty in finding a site outside the prefecture.

Foreign Minister Taro Aso expressed willingness Tuesday to modify the current plan if Okinawa presents a "viable" alternative.