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The US Navy's missile destroyer "Mastin" is scheduled to visit Otaru Port from February 2 to 7 for "friendship" purposes, prompting the Hokkaido Federation to submit opposition requests to the US Consulate in Sapporo on January 29 and to the Hokkaido government on January 31. The federation argued that the visit of a potentially nuclear-armed vessel to a city that has declared itself a nuclear-free zone is unacceptable, and that repeated port visits cannot be considered "friendship" under the Status of Forces Agreement. The US Consulate and the Hokkaido government responded by stating that the visit is for "friendship"! purposes and that they will respect the intentions of the port manager, the city of Otaru. The Hokkaido Federation countered that repeated visits are abnormal and that the US should pay for the port usage fees, and that the use of a weapon of mass destruction is unacceptable to the citizens.