Okinawa Gov. Onaga meets with Walter Mondale, calling for cancellation of Henoko relocation
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga (left) met with former Vice President Walter Mondale (right) in Minneapolis on May 18.
May 19, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
By Sakae Toiyama in Washington D.C.
On May 18, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga met with former Vice President Walter Mondale, who served as Ambassador to Japan, while on an official trip to the United States. Then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and then U.S. Ambassador Mondale announced in 1996 that the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma would be closed and its land returned to its owners. Onaga conveyed to Mondale the difficulty of constructing a replacement base for U.S Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Henoko, Nago because of strong public opposition. He said the U.S. government should cancel the current plan. The meeting was closed to the public.
After talking to Mondale, Onaga spoke to the press. He said, “It was a really meaningful time speaking with Mondale. He knew the details around the agreement reached in 1996 because he was the party in charge.” Onaga went on to say, “I am impressed and encouraged by what Mondale said.”
(English translation by T&CT)
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