(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) The Japanese and US governments are in the final stages of discussions over ways to ease the burden of US military bases on Japan's southernmost prefecture Okinawa.
The governments have been fine-tuning an agreement reached at a ministerial meeting in October, incorporating demands from Okinawa, according to Japan's (NHK WORLD) website
They are expected to agree shortly to allow surveys on lands currently utilized as US military facilities, to help plan their usage after they are returned to their owners
They are also set to agree to allow ship navigation and fishing in a US military training zone to the east of Okinawa's main island, when there are no drills
The Japanese government hopes these measures will encourage Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima to approve its application to reclaim land off Nago city to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station
Nakaima is expected to make a decision late next month at the earliest
On Wednesday, the mayor of Nago submitted a letter to the prefectural government, expressing his firm opposition to the relocation of the air station to the city
The prefectural government has decided to examine the application in more detail, mainly assessing plans for environmental conservation
It expects the exchange of questions and response with the Okinawa bureau of the defense ministry and subsequent screening of the application to take until late December.
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