1.   Ota also thanked Clinton for his efforts in dealing with the Okinawa bases issue.

2.   Secondly, it hoped to influence a likely referendum by Okinawans on the whole U.S. bases issue.

3.   Ota was at the airport that day to catch a flight to Tokyo for a meeting with Hashimoto to discuss the U.S. bases issue.

4.   Gingrich responded that the United States understands the significance of the Okinawa bases issue and assured that Washington would remain a Pacific power, officials said.