Japan"s foreign minister pressed Sunday for a quick resolution of a dispute over the relocation of a key U.S. Marine base, but also said he would consider options previously rejected by Washington, which could draw out negotiations, AP reported. «I don"t want to put a deadline on a decision, but if at all possible I want to reach a conclusion within this year,» Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada told reporters on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. Okada began a two-day trip to Okinawa on Sunday with a meeting with Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima and also viewed the current proposed new location for Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Three years ago, Japan and the U.S. agreed to move the Futenma airstrip, which is in a crowded city and has drawn complaints from residents who say it is noisy, dangerous and leads to increased crime in the area. But a new government swept to power earlier this year and put the deal on hold. Okada said Sunday he wants to look at combining the Futenma air base with another U.S. base in Kadena, also in Okinawa, even though U.S. officials have previously rejected the idea. -- SPA
