Nagasaki opposes arrival of Blue Ridge

[unhappycamper]

Nagasaki opposes arrival of Blue Ridge
Kyodo News Service
Posted : Wednesday Feb 4, 2009 22:03:44 EST

NAGASAKI, Japan — The Blue Ridge, the command ship of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, arrived at Nagasaki port Thursday morning amid opposition from local municipalities.

The 19,600-ton vessel’s visit to Nagasaki, its second call there after a visit in September 1995, is designed to promote mutual friendship between Japan and the United States. The vessel is to stay in Nagasaki until Monday.

Nagasaki Prefecture and Nagasaki City had asked the U.S. military to refrain from having the Blue Ridge visit given the sentiments of people in Nagasaki, which was hit by a U.S. atomic bomb in 1945. But the U.S. side turned down the request.

Last month, Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue issued a statement saying, “It is regrettable that the United States has decided to carry out the port call at a time when expectations for reducing nuclear weapons are high following the inauguration of President Barack Obama.”

Nagasaki Gov. Genjiro Kaneko issued a statement expressing his disappointment about the U.S. decision, saying local people’s voices were not listened to.


Rest of article at: http://navytimes.com/news/2009/02/kyodo_blue_ridge_nagasaki_020409w/#2e