Guam - Chairperson of the Legislative Committee the Guam Military Buildup, Senator Judi Guthertz, tells KUAM News she's not surprised about the recent change in position of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.  Now, she says, it's time to focus on the getting the Guam buildup right.

She added, "It was just a matter of time but the reality is there was just no other place for him to locate the agreement plans for Futenma." 

Hatoyama has officially backed down from his position on the Futenma issue and his pre-election hard line stance that it must be relocated off Okinawa altogether. Instead, Hatoyama is willing to recognize the status of forces agreement signed between Japan and the United States in 1996 relocating the Marine air base on Okinawa in Henoko.

Guthertz says once the agreement is formalized later this week, it will then be time to fight for the future of Guam's civilian community.