米露外相合意 シリアに時間稼ぎを許すな

The Yomiuri Shimbun September 17, 2013
U.S.-Russia agreement should not permit Syrian regime to buy time
米露外相合意　シリアに時間稼ぎを許すな（9月16日付・読売社説）

Military strikes against Syria have been averted, at least for now, apparently in a move aimed at achieving a political settlement to that country’s civil war. However, quite a few problems must be overcome.
　軍事攻撃は当面回避され、内戦の政治解決に向けて一歩を踏み出した。だが、まだまだ不透明な点が少なくない。

The foreign ministerial talks between the United States and Russia that were held in Geneva for three days until Saturday produced an agreement designed to formulate a framework to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons.
　ジュネーブで３日間にわたって開かれた米露外相会談は、シリアの化学兵器全廃を目指す枠組みで合意した。

Under the Washington-Moscow accord, Syria must hand over a complete list of its chemical weapons arsenal within a week, and the U.N.-backed Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is scheduled to embark on inspections of Syria’s chemical weapons sites by November. Complete destruction of the arsenal is planned for the first half of 2014.
　アサド政権に、すべての化学兵器を１週間以内に申告させ、１１月までに化学兵器禁止機関が査察を開始する。２０１４年前半までの完全廃棄を目標としている。

The accord, however, leaves one major question after another unanswered.
Is there any guarantee Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, which did not acknowledge until recently the existence of chemical weapons in the country, will unequivocally declare a list of its chemical weapons and live up to its promise to do away with them?
Will it be possible for OPCW inspectors to carry out effective inspections in the midst of a civil war?
　ただ、化学兵器の存在すら認めてこなかった政権が正直に申告し、廃棄する保証があるのか。国内各地で戦闘の続く内戦下で、果たして実効性のある査察ができるのか。次々と疑問が浮かぶ。

In regard to North Korea’s nuclear weapons development program, we recall that Pyongyang, after committing to abandoning the program, maneuvered to have it delayed and eventually refused to accept inspections.
　北朝鮮の核問題でも、北朝鮮はいったん核放棄を約束しながら、核計画の申告を遅らせ、査察を受け入れなかった。

The Assad government must never be allowed to buy time to prolong the life of the regime by deliberately delaying the implementation of the inspection accord.
アサド政権が、合意の履行を意図的に遅らせて、政権延命への時間稼ぎをするような事態を許してはなるまい。

UNSC resolution essential

The latest agreement came after Russia, the patron of the Assad administration, embarked on diplomatic arbitration in the wake of U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement of plans to launch punitive military action against Syria following the Assad regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons.
　今回の合意は、オバマ米大統領が、化学兵器使用への懲罰的軍事攻撃を表明したために、アサド政権の後見役のロシアが外交調停に乗り出し、実現したものだ。

After striking the deal with Moscow, Washington agreed to delay military operations against Damascus. The question over whether the Assad regime used chemical weapons has been shelved.
　合意を受け、米国は軍事攻撃を当面先送りした。アサド政権が化学兵器を使用したかどうかは、棚上げされたままである。

The agreement stipulates that if the Assad administration fails to comply with the terms of the accord, including a ban on the use of chemical weapons and their transportation without prior permission, the U.N. Security Council would take measures based on Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which will pave the way for military sanctions.
　合意文書には、化学兵器の使用や無許可の移送など、アサド政権が合意不履行の場合は、国連安全保障理事会が、武力制裁に道を開く国連憲章第７章に基づく措置を取るべきだと明記されている。

This means that strong pressure, including the threat of military strikes, is essential to ensure the Assad regime abides by the agreement to eliminate chemical weapons.
　政権に合意を履行させるには、なお軍事行動を含む強力な圧力が必要ということだろう。

In a statement released after the agreement, Obama said, “If diplomacy fails, the United States remains prepared to act,” implying that the United States retains the option of carrying out military strikes.
　オバマ大統領も、合意後の声明で、「外交が失敗すれば、米国は行動する用意がある」と述べ、米国として軍事攻撃の選択肢を維持する方針を強調した。

The U.N. Security Council, for its part, is set to draw up a resolution in response to the U.S.-Russia accord. The resolution must be adopted promptly, as it is indispensable for the international community as a whole to continue to exert pressure on the Assad regime to honor the accord.
　安保理では、合意を受けた決議案を作成する。早期に採択し、国際社会全体でアサド政権に履行を促す努力が欠かせない。

The civil war has already claimed the lives of 100,000 people, and refugees total 2 million. It is imperative to end the war as soon as possible.
　内戦では既に、１０万人が犠牲となり、２００万人が難民となった。一刻も早く戦闘を終わらせる方策を見つけなければならない。

The U.S. and Russian foreign ministers are scheduled to meet again in New York soon to discuss the feasibility of holding an international conference with both Assad regime officials and rebels taking part.
　米露外相は近くニューヨークで再会談し、アサド政権と反体制派双方が参加する国際会議の開催に向け協議する。

The rebels are far from united, as they comprise a multitude of forces, such as Islamist groups and secular organizations. Diplomatic negotiations to resolve these differences face many difficulties.
反体制側は、イスラム主義勢力や世俗派など様々な勢力が入り乱れている。外交交渉の前途は多難である。

Japan, for that matter, should not stand idly by. It should expand its humanitarian aid, including refugee relief, to the Syrian people.
　日本も手をこまねいてはいられない。難民対策など人道支援を一層充実させる必要があろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 16, 2013)
（2013年9月16日01時41分 読売新聞）