首相国連演説

(Sep. 27, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's message should be clearly transmitted
首相国連演説　日本の「言葉」を発信せよ（9月27日付・読売社説）

Taro Aso has made his diplomatic debut as prime minister. We hope he will play a leading role in sending a clear message to domestic and foreign audiences concerning what Japan attaches importance to and what it will try to accomplish in the international community.
　麻生外交が始動した。日本は、国際社会で何を重んじ、何をなそうとするのか。麻生首相は、自ら先頭に立ち、明確なメッセージを国内外に発信してもらいたい。

Aso delivered a speech at the 63rd U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, becoming the first Japanese prime minister to address the meeting since 2005.
　麻生首相が２５日、ニューヨークの国連総会で演説した。日本の首相の演説は３年ぶりだ。

"Peace and happiness are most certainly within our grasp through the pursuit of economic prosperity and democracy," Aso said. "I am determined to work in solidarity with countries holding fundamental values in common and to share Japan's experiences with nations strongly needing such support."
　首相は「経済的な繁栄と民主主義を希求する先に、平和と人々の幸福が必ずや勝ち取れる」と強調した。基本的な価値観を共有する国々と連帯して日本の経験を各国に伝えたい、とも訴えた。

Aso's remarks reflect the basic stance of Japan's diplomacy: The country will actively support the growth of developing countries' economies and institutions, and contribute to rooting out poverty and terrorism.
　途上国の経済発展や国造りを積極的に支援し、貧困解消やテロ撲滅に貢献する、という日本外交の基本姿勢を示したものだ。

The fact that it is the world's second-largest economy enables Japan to have its voice heard in the international community. But the country slipped to fifth place among official development assistance donors in 2007, mainly due to its deteriorating fiscal condition. If Aso is to strengthen foreign aid, as he has said he wants to do, it is indispensable to ensure Japan's economic growth first.
　国際社会での日本の発言力の源泉は、世界２位の経済力にある。だが、財政事情の悪化で２００７年の日本の政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）実績は世界５位に転落した。
　首相が目指すような対外支援を強化するには、まず、日本自身の経済成長が不可欠だ。

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Reform of UNSC needed

As foreign minister under the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Aso spelled out his diplomatic policy, which upholds universal values, including freedom, democracy and human rights, and supports the economic development and democratization of Eastern Europe and central Asia.
　首相は、安倍政権の外相時代に、自由や民主主義、人権などの普遍的価値を重視し、東欧や中央アジアの経済発展や民主化を支援していく外交方針を掲げた。

Imposing one's values on another country is bound to draw opposition from that country. Diplomacy needs width and depth.
　一方的な価値観の押しつけは相手国の反発を招きやすい。外交には幅や懐の深さも必要だ。

But Aso's willingness to spell out Japan's diplomatic philosophy is important.
　だが、日本の外交理念を「言葉」にして発信しよう、という首相の姿勢は大切だろう。

Reform of the U.N. Security Council, including Japan's bid to gain permanent membership, is important for the national interest. Fresh intergovernmental negotiations on expanding the Security Council will start by the end of February. Japan urgently needs to evolve a strategy centering on "an expansion of both permanent and nonpermanent membership," which Aso stressed in his speech.
　日本が常任理事国入りを目指す安全保障理事会改革は、日本の国益のために重要だ。来年２月末までに新たな政府間交渉が開始される。首相が訴えた「常任・非常任理事国双方の議席拡大」を軸に早急に戦略を練る必要がある。
evolve=
1　〈論理・意見・計画などを〉徐々に発展［展開］させる;〈結論・法則などを〉導き出す
～ a new plan from a casual remark　 ふとした発言から新計画を発展させる.
2　〈におい・蒸気などを〉発する,放出する.
3　〔生〕…を進化させる.
━　昿[Ⅰ（慱）]
1　発展［進化］する;〈作品の筋が〉進展する
The balloon ～d into the airship. [=The airship ～d from [out of] the balloon.]　 気球が発展して飛行船ができた.
2　〔生〕進化する.
語源　ラテン語Ivolvere (I-外に＋volvere回転する＝回転して解く→展開する）
e･vólv･a･ble慝
～･ment慥

If Japan is elected as one of the 10 new nonpermanent members of the Security Council in October, it would serve a two-year term, starting from January.
　日本は、１０月の非常任理事国選挙で当選すれば、来年１月から２年間、安保理メンバーとなる。

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Refueling job must continue

Aso also declared in his speech, "Japan will continue into the future to stand side by side with the international community and participate proactively in the fight against terrorism."
　首相は演説で「国際社会と一体となり、テロとの戦いに積極参画していく」と宣言した。日本が能動的な国連外交を展開するためにも、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動は継続すべきだ。

To conduct its active U.N. diplomacy, Japan should continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Japan must shoulder a fair burden if it is to contribute to international peace cooperation activities and maintain the Japan-U.S. security alliance, which Aso clarified in his speech as an "unchangeable cornerstone" of Japan's diplomacy.
　国際平和協力活動に貢献し、首相が演説で日本外交の「不変の基軸」と明言した日米同盟を堅持していくには、日本としても相応の役割を担わねばならない。

Referring to the government's interpretation of the Constitution, which bans the country from exercising the right of the collective self-defense, Aso told reporters in New York on Thursday, "Basically, it should be changed."
　首相は記者団に、集団的自衛権の行使を禁じている政府の憲法解釈について、「基本的に解釈を変えるべきものだ」と語った。

In June, a panel of experts discussing the right of the collective self-defense, which was set up by Abe, submitted a proposal to then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda calling for a change in the government's current interpretation. The government should tackle this issue seriously.
　政府解釈の変更を求める有識者懇談会の提言が今年６月、福田前首相に提出されている。政府として真剣に取り組むべき課題だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 27, 2008)
（2008年9月27日01時52分 読売新聞）