日露首脳会談 領土問題打開は腰を据えて

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 11, 2009)
Govt must try patiently to resolve N. isles row
日露首脳会談　領土問題打開は腰を据えて（7月11日付・読売社説）

It seems that the political environment both in Japan and Russia is not yet conducive for progress to be made in negotiations as tough as those aimed at resolving the territorial dispute over the four Russian-administered islands off Hokkaido.
　領土問題という難交渉で成果を上げるには、日露双方の政治的環境が整っていなかったということだろう。

On the sidelines of the summit meeting of the Group of Eight major nations in L'Aquila, Italy, Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
　サミットが開かれたイタリアで、麻生首相は、メドベージェフ露大統領と会談した。

When it came to the focal point of the disputed islands--Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and the Habomai island group, the Russian president stopped short of making any concrete proposal, simply stating that he was ready to examine every option with a "creative approach."
　焦点の北方領土問題で、大統領は「独創的なアプローチで、あらゆるオプションを検討する用意がある」と述べただけで、具体的な提案をしなかった。

Medvedev had referred to a creative approach during the two leaders' previous meeting in February, in which he suggested he would bring up specific measures in their next meeting in Italy.
　「独創的なアプローチ」については、大統領が２月の会談で言及し、今回の会談で具体策に踏み込むことを示唆していた。

Some viewed the president's remark as mere rhetoric. As if supporting such a view, Medvedev's statement in Italy turned out to be peremptory.
　「ただのレトリック（修辞）に過ぎない」との見方もあったが、今回の発言は、それを裏付けるような素っ気なさだった。

In response, Aso told Medvedev that it would be difficult for Japan and Russia to build a partnership in the Asia-Pacific region if Russia was not prepared to strive for progress in the territorial dispute. We believe he was quite right to do so.
　これに対して首相は、ロシアに領土問題で進展を図る用意がないなら、日露両国がアジア太平洋におけるパートナー関係を構築するのは困難だと指摘した。当然のことだろう。

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Medvedev weakened at home

As the reason why Russia found it difficult to present a concrete proposal on the disputed islands, Medvedev pointed to the recent passage at the Diet of a revised law declaring Japan's sovereignty over the islands.
　大統領は、具体的な提案が難しい理由として、先に日本の国会で成立した北方領土問題に関する改正特別措置法を挙げた。

The law is intended to enable the government to extend financial assistance to movements seeking the return of the four islands to Japan.
　改正法は領土返還運動の財政支援の強化が目的だ。

The Russian president said the law's description of the four islands as an "integral part of Japan" had prompted a fierce response in his country, notably in the State Duma parliament.
北方領土は日本の「固有の領土」と改正法に明記していることに対し、大統領は「ロシア議会を中心に激しい反応が出ている」と指摘した。

But Japan has long insisted that the islands are an integral part of Japan, both historically and in terms of international law.
　しかし、北方領土が、歴史的にも国際法上も日本の固有の領土であることは、日本が一貫して主張してきたことだ。

Russia's economy is still in the doldrums. The number of unemployed people is rapidly increasing, and demonstrations have taken place in various parts of the country. The president's popularity rate has declined.
　ロシアの国内経済は依然として低迷している。失業者が急増し、各地でデモも相次いでいる。大統領の支持率も下落した。

Such circumstances have weakened the president's political clout at home, presumably leaving him no choice but to give ground to hard-liners in the parliament.
　大統領は内政に足を取られ、議会の強硬論に配慮せざるを得なかったのではないか。

The political situation in Japan is also believed to have affected the two leaders' talks. It cannot be denied that the Russian side took advantage of Japan's weakness, apparently concluding that little could be expected from negotiations with Aso, whose political foundation has been greatly shaken, as evidenced by the fact that even those within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are demanding he step down as prime minister.
　日本国内の政治状況も影響していよう。自民党内から退陣要求が出るなど、政権基盤が揺らいでいる首相を相手に交渉しても、得るものは少ない、と足元をみられた側面は否定できない。

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Russia can't have it both ways

The Japanese government maintains the policy that if Russia acknowledges Japan's sovereignty over the four islands, it will be flexible in determining the timing and method of their return to Japan. The Japanese government has no choice other than to stick to this principle and patiently seek ways to break the impasse.
　日本政府の方針は、北方４島の日本への帰属をロシアが認めるなら、返還の時期や方法は柔軟に対応してよい、というものだ。この原則を維持し、腰を据えて打開の糸口を探っていくしかない。

The government has been showing a positive stance toward the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries with the hope of taking advantage of such a partnership to gain traction on the territorial row.
　政府は、領土問題を動かす“呼び水”として、経済協力の拡大にも前向きな姿勢をみせてきた。

It may be necessary to continue trying to widen bilateral cooperation in fields that would benefit both sides, such as energy cooperation. But Japan must not allow a situation under which territorial disputes are left behind while progress is being made in economic cooperation between the two countries.
　エネルギー協力など相互利益をもたらす分野は今後も拡大を図るにせよ、経済協力だけが先行して領土問題が置き去りにされることがあってはなるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2009)
（2009年7月11日01時21分 読売新聞）