議会調査局の調査員らと面談し、議会図書館から出てくる翁長雄志知事＝１月３１日、ワシントン
2017年2月2日 琉球新報
【ワシントン＝問山栄恵本紙特派員】訪米中の翁長雄志知事は１月３１日午後（日本時間２月１日早朝）、米首都ワシントンで米軍普天間飛行場の名護市辺野古移設に伴う新基地建設に反対する県の意思を伝え、移設計画の見直しを求める要請行動を始めた。３１日は議会図書館で、米連邦議員が政策判断の参考にする報告書を定期発行している「議会調査局」の日本専門調査員や議員の補佐官らと面談した。
翁長知事は調査員らとの面談で、「県民の７―８割が（辺野古移設に）反対する中では、（移設完了まで）１５年や２０年はかかる」と強調。さらに「これから設計変更など客観的に県の権限で対応していく」とも述べ、辺野古埋め立て承認取り消しを巡る最高裁判決で県が敗訴しても、移設作業は順調に進まないとの見通しを伝えた。
面談後、翁長知事は記者団に「米国では最高裁の判決について誤解があり、（移設問題は）終わったのではないかとの情報も聞いている。日本政府から発せられる情報と私からの情報に圧倒的な差がある。そういったことを想定して話をした」と述べた。
翁長知事は１日から、軍事委員会や外交委員会、歳出委員会に所属する上下両院の議員らと面談する。
英文へ→Governor Onaga travels to US to call for a stop to Henoko construction
Governor Onaga travels to US to call for a stop to Henoko construction
Governor Takeshi Onaga coming out of the Library of Congress after
meeting with researchers from the Congressional Research Service on
January 31 in Washington D.C.
February 2, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo
Sakae Toiyama reports from Washington D.C.
On the afternoon of January 31, Governor Takeshi Onaga began his action in Washington D.C. to convey Okinawa’s opposition to the construction of a new base as part of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago, and to call for the plan to be changed. On January 31, Governor Onaga met with Congress members and their staffers, and with researchers specializing in Japan at the Congressional Research Service, which regularly publishes reports that U.S. Congress members use as reference when making policy decisions.
At his meeting with the researchers, Governor Onaga emphasized that 70% to 80% of Okinawans oppose the Henoko relocation, and that amidst such opposition, it would take 15 to 20 years for the relocation to be completed. He also said that he plans to act objectively using his authority as governor to respond to any design changes related to the new base construction, conveying the expectation that although Japan’s Supreme Court ruled against Okinawa in the lawsuit over the cancellation of the Henoko land reclamation permit, the relocation work will not progress smoothly.
After the meeting, Governor Onaga told reporters, “In the United States, there is a misunderstanding about the Supreme Court’s ruling. People have expressed the understanding that the ruling indicates that [the relocation problem] is resolved. There is an overwhelming gap between the information propagated by the Japanese government and that which I have conveyed. I spoke to them on that premise.”
Starting on February 1, Governor Onaga will meet with members of the Senate and the House of Representatives who serve on their respective Armed Services Committees and Foreign Affairs Committees.
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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