英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 25, 2012)
Seize the change of govt to push relocation issue
「普天間」評価書　政権交代を機に移設を進めよ（12月24日付・読売社説）

By taking advantage of a change of government, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito should do their utmost to advance the stalled relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station.
　自民、公明両党は政権交代を機に、停滞している米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題の前進に全力を挙げるべきである。

The Defense Ministry has finished revising its report on its environmental impact assessment in preparation for relocating the station's functions to the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture and submitted it to the Okinawa prefectural government.
　防衛省が、普天間飛行場の沖縄県名護市辺野古沿岸部への移設に向けた環境影響評価書の補正作業を完了し、沖縄県に提出した。

The report was revised in response to the written opinion of Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima on the relocation to Henoko. The governor's opinion listed 579 points.
　評価書の補正は仲井真弘多知事が示した計５７９件の意見に対応したものだ。

While adding assessments based on the latest survey on marine life, the ministry wrote that it would take the best environmental protection measures possible.
海洋生物の最新調査に基づく評価などを追加し、「可能な範囲で最大限の環境保全措置を取る」としている。

It can be said that the ministry's report responded thoroughly to the huge number of requests made by the governor.
　知事の膨大な注文に、丁寧に回答した内容と言えよう。

Following the public announcement of its report later, the ministry will be able to apply to the prefectural government for approval to begin reclamation work for the construction of an air base to replace Futenma Air Station.
　今後、評価書の公告を経て、防衛省が、普天間飛行場の代替施設建設に伴う埋め立てを沖縄県に申請することが可能になる。

LDP President Shinzo Abe, who is certain to become the next prime minister, said he would like to make efforts to win the understanding of local governments and residents on the relocation plan.
　自民党の安倍総裁は、辺野古移設について「地元の理解を得る努力をしたい」と述べたが、仲井真知事は「地元の理解が得られない移設は事実上不可能」と語っている。

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Prospect dim for early solution

Nakaima said earlier the relocation would be impossible without local understanding. As it stands, there is no prospect for the ministry to win the governor's permission to carry out the reclamation work.
埋め立ての許可を得られる見通しは立っていない。

Nakaima had approved relocation to the Henoko district until the gubernatorial election in November 2010. He later shifted his stance to call for "relocation outside the prefecture," but he has not publicly declared objections to the relocation plan.
　ただ、知事は一昨年秋の知事選まで辺野古移設を容認していた。その後、「県外移設」要求に転じたが、今も反対は明言していない。

The incoming coalition government of the LDP and Komeito must reestablish a relationship of trust with the Okinawa prefectural government, which has been greatly damaged by the maladministration of the Democratic Party of Japan, and persuade Nakaima to approve the relocation plan.
　自公政権は、民主党政権の失政で破壊された沖縄県との信頼関係を修復し、移設を容認するよう知事を説得しなければならない。

To relocate the air station from the densely populated area of Ginowan to a sparsely inhabited area of Henoko would greatly reduce the burden on Okinawa of hosting U.S. bases.
　人口密集地から過疎地に飛行場を移すことは、県全体として基地負担を大幅に軽減する。

Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine opposes the relocation plan, but some local communities around Henoko approve of the plan, which is significant.
名護市長は反対だが、辺野古周辺の自治区が容認している事実は重い。

If the Henoko relocation plan is realized, it will be possible to make effective use of the vacated air station, and to take various measures to promote the local economy. If the plan is abandoned, however, the currently dangerous situation in Ginowan is certain to continue for a long time.
　辺野古移設が実現すれば、普天間飛行場の跡地を有効利用し、様々な地域振興が可能となる。逆に断念すれば、危険な現状が長期間、固定化されることは確実だ。

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Accident impact less

The safety of the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, newly deployed at Futenma Air Station, has been confirmed. But if an accident involving the new transport aircraft occurred, it is obvious the resulting damage to the coastal district of Henoko would be smaller than the impact of a similar accident in the urban area of Ginowan.
　普天間飛行場に配備された新型輸送機オスプレイは安全性が確認されたが、万一、事故が起きた際、市街地よりも辺野古沿岸部の方が被害が小さいのは明らかだ。

Solving the issue, which has been pending since the 1996 Japan-U.S. accord on the relocation, would greatly contribute to the reinforcement of the Japan-U.S. alliance, the importance of which is growing against the backdrop of China's military buildup and other developments.
　１９９６年の日米合意以来の懸案を解決することは、中国の軍備増強などで重要性を増す日米同盟の強化にも大いに役立つ。

We hope Nakaima will comprehensively consider these factors.
　仲井真知事は、こうした要素を総合的に勘案してもらいたい。

The important thing is for the central government to create an atmosphere in which the governor will find it easier to permit the reclamation work.
　重要なのは、新政権が、埋め立てを知事が許可しやすい環境を整えることだ。

First of all, the LDP and Komeito need to persuade their prefectural organizations and their locally elected Diet members calling for "relocating the facility outside the prefecture" to change their stance, thus increasing local understanding on the Henoko relocation.
まず、「県外移設」を唱える自公両党の県組織や地元選出国会議員を説得し、辺野古移設への理解を広げることだ。

It is also vital to deal with the problem of local assembly members of Nago who are split over the relocation issue, and to make efforts to rebuild the cooperative relationship with Okinawa Prefecture, including expanded measures to promote the local economy.
　反対・容認に割れる名護市議などの地元対策や、沖縄振興策の拡充を含めた沖縄県との協調関係の再構築も欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2012)
（2012年12月24日01時20分 読売新聞）