琉球新報 2016年11月22日 06:30
全国知事会の研究会で、沖縄の基地問題の実情について説明する翁長雄志知事＝２１日、都道府県会館
【東京】全国知事会は２１日、沖縄の米軍基地負担の軽減を目指し知事会内に設けた研究会の初会合を千代田区の都道府県会館で開いた。出席した翁長雄志知事は米軍基地があることで経済的、財政的に潤沢だとみられることが「誤解」で、逆に「沖縄経済発展の最大の阻害要因」だと指摘し「本島内には１８％の基地がある。地元で１８％の米軍基地があると想像してほしい」と訴えた。
研究会は埼玉県の上田清司知事を座長に全国知事会会長の山田啓二京都府知事、米軍基地所在の都道府県でつくる渉外知事会会長の黒岩祐治神奈川県知事ら１１道府県知事がメンバーとなっている。
上田座長は「地域の責任者として研究成果、問題点を整理し、きちっと声を上げて全国知事会で取り上げていくための研究会にしなければならない」と強調した。山田会長は「基地問題を全国知事会で共通課題、共通問題として議論してもらいたい」と述べた。
翁長知事は、上田座長が「『米軍基地は経済発展の最大の阻害要因』というのは別の所にも当てはまるかもしれない」と指摘したことに、基地は地方にとっての負担だと「理解いただけたのではないか」と指摘した。
研究会は日米安保や日米地位協定、基地負担軽減などの課題をテーマにする。国への提言などをまとめる場合は全国知事会で議論し、政策要望として反映させる場合は全国知事会総務常任委員会、渉外知事会で検討する。２、３カ月ごとに開催予定で、次回はトランプ米大統領就任後の１月末から２月にかけて開く。
英文へ→Onaga encourages other governors to imagine 18% of their prefecture consisting of U.S. bases
翁長知事「１８％の米軍基地、想像を」 知事会研究会が初会合
琉球新報 2016年11月22日 06:30
Onaga encourages other governors to imagine 18% of their prefecture consisting of U.S. bases
November 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
Governor Takeshi Onaga explains the base issues in Okinawa at a study group of governors from around the country on November 21 at the Prefectural Assembly Hall in Tokyo
(Tokyo) At an assembly of nationwide governors on November 21, the first meeting of a study group established within the governors’ association with the aim of reducing the burden of U.S. bases on Okinawa was held at the Prefectural Assembly Hall in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward. At the meeting, Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga explained that it is a misunderstanding to think that U.S. bases bring economic and financial wealth, explaining that rather, the bases pose the greatest obstacle to economic development in Okinawa. Onaga explained that 18% of Okinawa Island is used for U.S. bases, and implored the other governors to imagine that 18% of their own prefecture were taken up by bases.
The study group consisted of eleven members, including Saitama Governor Kiyoshi Ueda, who served as chair of the meeting, Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada, who is chair of the nationwide governors’ association, and Kanagawa Governor Yuji Kuroiwa, who is chair of a liaison council of governors with U.S. bases in their jurisdictions.
Ueda emphasized that as people responsible for their respective locales, the members must compile research results and points of issue, and must use the study meetings as a basis to raise their voices and bring up the issue in the nationwide governor’s association. Yamada said that he wants to see the base issue discussed as a common issue shared by all in the nationwide governors’ association.
Upon hearing Ueda’s remarks that the idea of the U.S. bases being the greatest obstacle to Okinawa’s economic development could apply to other areas as well, Onaga asserted that he felt the other governors had understood that bases are a burden for the locales in which they are located.
The study group will look at issues related to the U.S.-Japan security relationship, the Status of Forces Agreement, and base burden reduction. If the group is to provide recommendations to the national government, there will first be discussions among the nationwide governors’ association, and if its ideas are to be reflected in policy demands, there will be investigation into such matter among the nationwide governors’ association’s general standing committee and the abovementioned liaison council. The group plans to meet every two to three months, and the next meeting will be held between the end of January and the beginning of February, after President-Elect Trump of the United States takes office.
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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November 22, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
