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UNCLAS NAHA 000128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL PINS JA
SUBJECT: OKINAWA MAYORS FINALLY REALIZE BASE REALIGNMENT IS REAL 
 
(SBU) Some good news from Okinawa.  Consul General had drinks 
September 26 with two key Okinawa Mayors, Gibu of Kin Town (Camp 
Hansen) and Miyagi of Kadena Town (Kadena Air Base).  They both 
were very excited about the recent visit to Okinawa of Guam 
Governor Felix Camacho.  They stressed that Governor Camacho's 
visit, combined with the visit to Guam several weeks ago by most 
of the base-hosting mayors from the central area of Okinawa, had 
galvanized the Okinawa mayors.  In short, they now finally 
realize that the U.S. is serious about the realignment plan in 
Okinawa, and that the return of most of the base land south of 
Kadena is real.  Until the visit, most had been thinking the 
realignment plan for consolidation/return of facilities was 
"just another plan" much like what they have seen many times in 
the past thirty years -- a nice idea but not something to 
actually bank on as a mayor planning for the city's future. 
 
(SBU)  Mayor Miyagi noted that with their visit to Guam, and 
following discussions with Governor Camacho at a dinner 
September 14 at the Consul General's residence attended by six 
of the central area mayors, the mayors have changed their view. 
They now understand that Guam fully welcomes the move of 8,000 
Marines from Okinawa, and that the USG is moving forward with 
its own planning and funding for developing necessary facilities 
in Guam.  They also now realize that consolidation is just a few 
years away, so they must plan now to deal with issues such as 
changes to their tax base with the loss of base land rents, 
employment issues, land use planning, and transition subsidies 
from Tokyo.  The central mayors' association now is beginning to 
do so. 
 
(SBU)  Mayor Miyagi told the Consul General the atmosphere has 
changed dramatically with Governor Camacho's visit to Okinawa. 
Consul General has been telling people here repeatedly of course 
that we are serious about the major consolidation/return of 
land, as part of the overall realignment package, conditioned on 
the successful move of MCAS Futenma to the Futenma Replacement 
Facility (FRF) and the successful move of 8,000 Marines to Guam. 
 But hearing directly from Governor Camacho and seeing with 
their own eyes what is happening in Guam seems to have brought 
it home to them.  This is a good thing.  Mayor Miyagi also noted 
this is greatly increasing pressure on Okinawa Governor Nakaima 
to cooperate with Tokyo on the FRF Environmental Impact 
Assessment, since they all understand that the 
consolidation/return of land and the move to Guam will not take 
place without the successful move of MCAS Futenma to FRF. 
 
MAHER