首相中東訪問 資源確保へ戦略的協力深めよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun August 27, 2013
Deepen strategic ties with nations of GCC to ensure energy security
首相中東訪問　資源確保へ戦略的協力深めよ（8月26日付・読売社説）

To ensure stable supplies of energy resources to this country, it is crucial to deepen strategic cooperation with the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
　エネルギー資源の安定的な確保に向け、日本が湾岸協力会議（ＧＣＣ）各国と戦略的な協力を深める意義は大きい。

On Saturday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Bahrain, the chair of the GCC, and had talks with Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
　安倍首相がＧＣＣ議長国のバーレーンを訪問し、ハリファ首相と会談した。

The two leaders agreed to hold strategic ministerial dialogues between Japan and the GCC, while setting up a framework for working-level security talks. Signs are that the strategic dialogues may begin as early as September.
日本とＧＣＣの閣僚級戦略対話の開始や、事務レベルの安全保障対話の新設で一致した。戦略対話は９月にも開かれる見通しだ。

The GCC, a regional organization comprising six Middle East nations facing the Persian Gulf, groups Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.
　ＧＣＣは、同国と、サウジアラビア、アラブ首長国連邦（ＵＡＥ）、カタール、クウェート、オマーンの計６か国で構成される。

Abe, who visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE in spring this year, will also visit Qatar and Kuwait on the current trip.
安倍首相は、今春にサウジとＵＡＥを訪れており、今回はカタール、クウェートも歴訪する。

Japan depends on GCC members for more than 70 percent of its annual crude oil imports amid the country’s stringent energy supply-demand situation caused by delays in the resumption of nuclear power plant operations after the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake.
　原子力発電所の再稼働が進まずにエネルギー需給が逼迫(ひっぱく)する中、日本が原油の年間輸入量の７割超をＧＣＣ各国に依存していることを踏まえたものだ。

The Persian Gulf’s maritime shipping lanes for transporting crude oil and other resources are vitally important to the Japanese economy. Continual consultations must be held on such issues as securing the sea lanes and preparing antipiracy countermeasures as part of the strategic Japan-GCC dialogues.
　原油などを運ぶペルシャ湾の海上交通路（シーレーン）は、日本にとって死活的な重要性を持つ。戦略対話では、シーレーンの安全確保策や海賊対策などを継続的に協議することが大切である。

In January, Japanese nationals were taken hostage in Algeria. As part of the Japan-GCC dialogues, information about terrorist activities by extremists in the Middle East and Africa must be shared.
　１月にはアルジェリアで邦人人質事件が発生した。中東・アフリカの過激派によるテロ情報の共有・交換も着実に進めるべきだ。

Conducive to ME peace

As chances of having summit talks with China and South Korea in the near future appear slim, Abe has focused his diplomatic efforts on the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
　安倍首相は、中国、韓国との首脳会談ができない中、対中東・東南アジア外交を重視している。

Expediting efforts to strengthen ties with these regions’ mid-level countries will most likely earn Japan a precious diplomatic asset from the mid- and long-term points of view.
こうした中堅国との関係を強化することは、中長期的に日本外交の貴重な“財産”となるはずだ。

In the Mideast, the situations in Egypt and Syria have been deteriorating alarmingly amid discussions on the problems of Iran’s nuclear development programs and Middle East peace negotiations. Building up strategic relations between Japan and the GCC nations may indirectly help stabilize the Middle East as a whole.
　中東では今、エジプト、シリア情勢が悪化する一方、イランの核開発問題の協議や中東和平交渉が続く。日本のＧＣＣとの戦略的関係の構築は、中東全体の安定に向けた側面支援にもつながろう。

In Saturday’s talks, Japan and Bahrain agreed to resume talks on a Japan-GCC free trade agreement and expand cooperation in such fields as agriculture, railways and medical services.
　首脳会談では経済分野で、日本とＧＣＣの自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）交渉の再開や、農業・鉄道・医療分野の協力拡大で合意した。

In the current tour of Middle East countries, Abe is accompanied by an economic mission comprising about 50 people, who represent mostly private-sector businesses. This is because a number of large-scale infrastructure development projects have been planned in the GCC countries, including some in Qatar, which will host the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament.
　安倍首相の歴訪には、５０人規模の民間企業関係者らが同行している。２０２２年にサッカー・ワールドカップを開催するカタールをはじめ各国で、大型の社会資本整備が予定されているためだ。

Economic cooperation between the two sides should be encouraged in a way reciprocally beneficial to Japan and the GCC.
　日本、ＧＣＣ双方の利益となるよう経済面の連携を進めたい。

The prime minister will visit Djibouti on Tuesday to encourage Maritime Self-Defense Force members engaged in antipiracy activities in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. The MSDF has been enhancing its presence in the region by dispatching destroyers and P-3C surveillance aircraft.
　首相は２７日にジブチを訪れ、アデン湾で海賊対処行動に従事する海上自衛隊員を激励する。海自は護衛艦とＰ３Ｃ哨戒機を派遣し、日本の存在感を高めている。

Abe’s words of encouragement will be sure to help improve the morale of the MSDF personnel. The prime minister has often expressed his appreciation of the roles of the Self-Defense Forces, frequently visiting SDF troops in various places. We hope the prime minister will continue this practice.
　首相の激励は隊員の士気を高めよう。首相は従来、自衛隊の役割を高く評価し、各地で部隊訪問を重ねている。今後も、こうした姿勢を維持してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2013)
（2013年8月26日01時17分 読売新聞）