Ryukyu Shimpo wrote that on Thursday a delegation of the Okinawa Municipal Council for Military Land Conversion and Base Problems (Guntenkyo) led by Governor Tamaki requested U.S. and Japanese authorities work to resolve issues related to U.S. bases, including Futenma relocation. The paper wrote that the delegation bore a petition consisting of 80 items. These included a reduction of U.S. bases and their associated burden, addressing environmental issues, and a fundamental review of the SOFA. Defense Minister Iwaya reportedly told the delegation that the GOJ will make efforts to obtain Okinawa’s understanding by providing detailed explanations of the FRF construction at Henoko and other issues. According to the paper, at his meeting with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sugita at the Kantei, the governor asked the GOJ for a meeting to discuss the agreement between the central and Okinawa governments to suspend the operations at the Futenma Air Station “within the five-year period” that will end on Feb. 28 this year. The governor told reporters after the meeting that not only Ginowan residents but all Okinawans have been requesting that the Futenma base be closed as soon as possible. The paper added that the delegation also visited MOFA, the U.S. Embassy, and the headquarters of the LDP and the Komeito Party. Okinawa Times reported on the local leaders’ meeting with Defense Minister Iwaya.