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thedrifter
06-29-08, 07:35 AM
U.S. seeking 50 billion yen for marines' move to Guam

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The U.S. government has asked the Japanese government to allocate about 50 billion yen in its fiscal 2009 budget for the scheduled relocation of U.S. marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam, sources said Saturday.

The relocation, which is expected to be completed in 2014, is a part of the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in Japan.

The Defense Ministry has started making arrangements to appropriate the funds, which are expected to cover the cost of preparing a 300-hectare plot of land for the construction of accommodation for marines and their headquarters in the U.S. Navy precinct in northern Guam, the sources said.

About 400 million yen was appropriated this fiscal year to lay the groundwork for the transfer of the marines to Guam and other expenses.

The Defense Ministry believes a far larger budget will need to be set aside next fiscal year to realize the relocation of the marines as early as possible, the sources said.

The U.S. government is expected to present a basic plan on the relocation, including details on marines' basic facilities and their accommodation, by the end of July.

However, it may take some time for the government to agree on the budgetary appropriation due to the slow progress on the relocation plan of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to Camp Schwab in Nago because the two relocation plans are handled as a set.
(Jun. 29, 2008)

Ellie