I am pleased that the United States and Japanese negotiators have successfully reached an agreement in principle that clarifies the scope of the civilian component of the U.S. Armed Forces in Japan, as then-Defense Minister Nakatani and I committed to do in June of this year. ‎I commend the work of both governments in completing the negotiation of this important agreement, which we expect to be finalized soon.‎ ‎ These new measures, together with the partial land return of the Northern Training Area and the imminent resumption of construction activities at the Futenma Replacement Facility in Okinawa, demonstrate our close cooperation with the Government of Japan in strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance.