米軍住宅地区を緑地公園に　共同使用で負担軽減アピール―岸田首相

　岸田文雄首相は１５日、沖縄復帰５０周年記念式典での式辞で、米軍キャンプ瑞慶覧の「ロウワー・プラザ住宅地区」（沖縄市、北中城村、約２３ヘクタール）について、２０２４年度以降に予定される返還に先立ち、緑地公園として日米で共同使用する方針を明らかにした。
　首相は「来年度中の利用開始に向け、必要な準備を進めていく。基地負担軽減の目に見える成果を一つ一つ着実に積み上げていく」と強調した。首相は同日午前、同地区を訪れ、地元首長らに「ぜひ公園を活用してほしい。その後の土地利用もしっかり支援したい」と語った。（2022/05/15-17:06）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday that the joint use of a residential site at a U.S. base in Okinawa Prefecture by Japan and the United States is likely to start before the land's planned return to Japan.
   He unveiled the prospect during a visit to the Lower Plaza residential area, part of the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Foster, also known as Camp Zukeran.
   The prime minister is slated to formally announce the planned start of the joint use of the Lower Plaza area before its return at a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan from post-World War II U.S. occupation, to be held in the city of Ginowan in the southernmost Japan prefecture later on Sunday. He will attend the event in person.
   The return of the site is part of the efforts to reduce Okinawa's burden of hosting U.S. bases. The bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan are in Okinawa.
   The Japanese and U.S. governments have agreed that the site of the Lower Plaza area, which straddles the city of Okinawa and the village of Kitanakagusuku, will be returned to Japan in fiscal 2024 or later.