問責決議可決 民主党は貨物法案を葬るのか

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 15, 2009)
Is DPJ going to kill off N. Korea cargo bill?
問責決議可決　民主党は貨物法案を葬るのか（7月15日付・読売社説）

A no-confidence motion submitted by four of the opposition parties against Prime Minister Taro Aso's Cabinet was voted down by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, but a censure motion against the prime minister passed the House of Councillors.
　野党４党が衆院に提出した内閣不信任決議案は否決されたものの、麻生首相問責決議案は参院で可決された。

Following the approval of the censure motion, the opposition parties began boycotting the Diet session in the both upper and lower houses, saying they cannot discuss bills under a prime minister they have censured.
　野党は、自らが問責した首相の下では国会審議に応じられないとして、衆参両院で全面的な審議拒否に入った。

If this deadlock continues, 17 bills the government has submitted to the current Diet session, including one to enable inspections of North Korean cargo, likely would be scrapped with the dissolution of the lower house, tipped for July 21 at the earliest.
　このままの状況が続けば、２１日にも予定される衆院解散で、北朝鮮貨物検査特別措置法案など政府提出の１７法案は廃案になる。

The ruling bloc and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan look set to reach an agreement on changes to be made to some bills sponsored by lawmakers, including one to revise the law banning child prostitution and pornography, but they likely also will be cast aside.
児童ポルノ禁止法改正案のように、与党と民主党が法案修正で合意目前だった議員立法も同様だ。

Does the DPJ really think it is right to let the North Korean cargo inspection bill be abandoned? If the bill is not approved, the Japan Coast Guard and customs will remain unable to inspect the cargo of ships traveling to and from North Korea, or to seize embargoed items.
　民主党は、貨物検査法案をこのまま廃案にしてよいと思っているのだろうか。法案が成立しないと、北朝鮮に出入りする船舶への貨物検査や禁輸品の押収を、海上保安庁や税関が実施できない状態が続くことになる。

These measures are called for under a U.N. Security Council resolution against North Korea.
　これらの措置は、北朝鮮に対する国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議に基づくものだ。

===

DPJ wary of N. Korea bill

DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama at a press conference expressed his intention to approve early passage of the cargo inspection bill, the contents of which meet the U.N.-centered approach advocated by the DPJ. These two factors make it reasonable for the main opposition party to support the bill.
　民主党の鳩山代表は記者会見で、法案の早期成立を是認する意向を示していた。民主党が掲げる国連中心主義にも合致する。法案に賛成するのが筋だろう。

Some DPJ members, including those from the former Japan Socialist Party, remain cautious about the bill because it enables the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Force ships. According to some observers, the DPJ is concerned that if the party were to support the bill, it could adversely affect its electoral alliance with the Social Democratic Party before the lower house election.
　民主党内には、法案が海上自衛隊の派遣も可能にしているため、旧社会党系議員を中心に、消極的な意見がある。法案への賛成は、衆院選を前にして、社民党との選挙協力に悪影響が出ることを懸念したとの見方もある。

But failing to ensure the nation's domestic laws are adequate might also come back to haunt the DPJ.
　国内法の不備を放置するツケが近い将来、民主党に回ってこないとも限らない。

===

Undermining joint intl efforts

In the latter half of September, weeks after the lower house election, the U.N. General Assembly will meet in New York and a Group of 20 financial summit meeting is to be held in Pittsburgh.
　衆院選から数週間後の９月後半にニューヨークで国連総会、ピッツバーグで世界２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）金融サミットが開かれる。

The Japanese prime minister is expected to attend these meetings and it is highly likely that prime minister will hold summit talks at that time with U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao.
　日本の首相も出席し、その場でオバマ大統領との日米首脳会談や胡錦濤国家主席との日中首脳会談が行われる可能性も高い。

The meetings present excellent opportunities for Japan to encourage the leaders of China and the other countries to faithfully implement the U.N. Security Council resolution on North Korea and give the prime minister a chance to highlight the need to strenghten the coalition of nations to urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear development program.
　中国はじめ各国の首脳に対し、制裁決議の厳格な履行を促し、北朝鮮に核廃棄を迫る国際包囲網の強化を訴える絶好の機会だ。

If the DPJ wins the upcoming lower house election and a change of power is realized, "Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama" will make his international debut at these meetings. If the North Korean cargo inspection bill is not yet approved at this time, Hatoyama's appeal to the world leaders will have no impact. Will the DPJ not regret this?
　衆院選で民主党が勝利し、政権交代が実現すれば、「鳩山首相」の外交デビューとなる。その時、貨物検査法案が成立していなければ、「鳩山首相」の訴えは、まったく迫力を欠くものとなろう。民主党はそれでもよいのか。

The ruling bloc has criticized the DPJ for refusing to take part in Diet deliberations, saying the main opposition party is doing so to avoiding being pursued in the Diet over the scandal regarding fabrication of personal donations to Hatoyama.
　審議拒否の理由について、与党は、鳩山代表の個人献金偽装問題を国会で追及されたくないからだと批判している。

Whether this criticism is right or wrong, the DPJ should still cooperate with the ruling coalition parties to ensure the North Korean cargo inspection bill passes the Diet by the end of the current session.
　与党の批判の当否はともかく、民主党はやはり、北朝鮮貨物検査法案の今国会での成立に協力すべきであろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2009)
（2009年7月15日01時18分 読売新聞）

　

８月３０日総選挙 問われる政策と政権担当能力

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 14, 2009)
Policies, ability to hold power being tested
８月３０日総選挙　問われる政策と政権担当能力（7月14日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Taro Aso and senior officials of the ruling coalition parties agreed Monday to dissolve the House of Representatives next Tuesday at the earliest and hold a general election on Aug. 30.
　連休明けの今月２１日にも衆院を解散し、８月３０日を投開票日とする衆院選日程が固まった。
　麻生首相が１３日、自民、公明両党の幹部らと会談して合意した。

Aso was looking at a dissolution of the lower house immediately after the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on Sunday. Facing intensifying pressure to step down from the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party following the party's crushing defeat in the Tokyo assembly election, Aso apparently compromised with many members of the ruling parties who wanted the general election to be postponed.
　首相は、東京都議選直後の早期解散を模索していた。しかし、都議選での自民党大敗を受け、党内で「麻生降ろし」の風圧が高まる中、投票日の先延ばしを求める与党内の大勢と妥協を図ったということだろう。

Aso's decision on the scheduling of the lower house dissolution and general election also was affected by opposition efforts, especially those of the Democratic Party of Japan, to submit a no-confidence motion against his Cabinet and a censure motion against the prime minister to the Diet on Monday.
　民主党など野党が１３日、内閣不信任決議案や首相問責決議案を国会に提出したことも影響した。

===

Seizing last chance
　◆最後の機会にかける◆

Aso has been constantly seeking the right moment to dissolve the lower house since he became prime minister in September amid high expectations for him to serve as the LDP's front man in the next general election.
　昨年９月、「選挙の顔」と期待されて登場した首相は、絶えず解散の機をうかがっていた。

Suffering the repercussions of the financial crisis originating in the United States, however, Aso passed up two opportunities to dissolve the lower house--at the opening of the extraordinary Diet session in autumn and late in October.
　だが、米国発の金融危機のあおりを受け、秋の臨時国会の冒頭解散も、１０月末解散も見送った。

Aso stressed that he was prioritizing economic stimulus measures over the dissolution of the lower house, but he eventually failed to take the initiative in dissolving the lower house. He has managed to call the general election before terms of lower house members expire and grabbed this last chance for him to dissolve the lower house on a date of his own choosing.
　景気対策最優先の立場を強調したが、結局、解散で主導権をとれなかった。今回は、衆院議員任期満了に伴う選挙を回避し、自分の手で解散する最後の機会にかけた形である。

Finally, the general election countdown is underway.
　これでいよいよ衆院選が具体的に動き出すことになる。

Since last year, the recession has been spreading globally and the Japanese economy has been languishing.
　昨年来、世界同時不況が進行し、日本の景気も、底をはうような厳しい状態が続いている。

North Korea has carried out development and tests of nuclear missiles and has been ignoring international warnings.
　北朝鮮は「核ミサイル」開発・実験を強行し、国際社会の警告を無視したままだ。

Despite growing public anxiety over the public pension, health care and nursing care systems amid the graying population and ultralow birthrate, an assured blueprint and stable resources to fund them have yet to be presented.
　超少子高齢化社会が進行する中で、年金、医療、介護の将来に対する不安感が国民の間に増大しているのに、確かな設計図や安定財源は、いまだ示されていない。

We hope each party will actively discuss the matter as soon as possible, without waiting for the official election campaign to kick off on Aug. 18, finalize their clear vision of this country and systematic policies, and present them to voters.
　各党は、衆院選が公示される予定の８月１８日を待たずに、党内論議を活性化させ、できるだけ早期に、明確な国家ビジョンと体系的な政策を固めて、有権者に提示してもらいたい。

While Aso decided to dissolve the lower house, he still has his back to the wall.
　首相は、解散を決めたものの、依然、窮地に立たされている。

Aso attempted to use Sunday's Tokyo assembly election to pull himself out a political quagmire, but the LDP suffered a resounding defeat and allowed the DPJ to become the largest party in the assembly.
　起死回生を狙った東京都議選では、第１党の座を民主党に譲る大敗を喫した。

According to a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion poll conducted early this month, the approval rating for the Aso Cabinet fell to 19.7 percent, dropping below 20 percent for the first time.
　今月初めの読売新聞世論調査によると、麻生内閣の支持率は１９・７％と２割を切った。

We have rarely seen a prime minister dare to dissolve the lower house with such a low cabinet approval rating. Even the approval rating of the LDP itself, which has long maintained the position of largest party in the Diet, was floundering at the 20-percent mark in the same opinion poll--below that of the DPJ.
　これほど低い内閣支持率で解散に打って出る首相は、あまり例がない。これまで第１党を維持してきた自民党の支持率は、同じ調査で２割台に低迷し、民主党を下回っている。

With approval ratings for both the Cabinet and party languishing at low levels, the upcoming lower house election is sure to become a battle in which the two major parties directly ask voters which one they think more suited to running the nation.
内閣、政党支持率ともに二重苦にある。
　衆院選は、自民党と民主党の２大政党が有権者に真正面から「政権選択」を問う戦いになる。

===

Clarify points through debate
　◆論戦を通じて対立軸を◆

However, the problem is that both parties are behind in their preparation of actual policies with which they can appeal to voters during the election campaign.
　しかし、問題は、両党ともに、国民の審判を受けるための政策づくりが遅れていることだ。

Aso is sticking to a strategy of fighting off the DPJ by making clear the policy differences between the parties and questioning the DPJ's ability to govern.
　首相は、これまで民主党との政策の違いを際立たせ、民主党の「政権担当能力」をただすことにこだわりをみせてきた。

A prime example is the policy of raising the consumption tax, a way to gain a financial source for social welfare programs. Aso has maintained that the consumption tax rate should be raised in the future provided the economy improves.
　社会保障財源としての消費税率の引き上げ問題もその一つで、景気回復を前提に将来の税率アップに取り組む姿勢を示している。

Countering Aso, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama has made clear the DPJ's position that it will not raise the consumption tax rate for four years if it takes the reins of government.
　これに対して、民主党の鳩山代表は、党首討論で「我々が政権を取っても４年間、消費税は増税しない」と明言している。

We hope both parties will further deepen their debate over the raising of the consumption tax rate.
　こうした消費税を含む税財源のあり方について、大いに議論を戦わせてほしい。

At the same time, the DPJ opposed the laws enacted to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean and antipiracy mission off the coast of Somalia.
　民主党は海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動やソマリア沖の海賊対策の根拠法に反対した。

The DPJ and other opposition parties, which submitted a no-confidence motion against the Aso Cabinet and a censure motion against Aso, said they would not participate in Diet deliberations on important bills. This move now makes it difficult for the bill for implementing North Korea-related cargo inspections to pass the current Diet, many analysts said.
　北朝鮮に出入りする船舶を検査する貨物検査特別措置法案も、民主党など野党が、問責決議案可決後、すべての国会審議に応じないとしていることから、今国会成立は難しくなった。

If the DPJ scraps a bill based on a U.N. Security Council resolution, the party would inevitably be criticized both at home and abroad for "abandoning its responsibilities" as a political party.
　国連安全保障理事会の決議を受けた法案を廃案にするなら、民主党が内外から「責任放棄」と批判されてもやむをえまい。

People are still concerned about whether the DPJ can smoothly steer the nation in both domestic and diplomatic policies without falling into disarray if the party takes power. The pressing issue for the DPJ is to wipe such worries from voters' minds.
　有権者が民主党に不安を覚えるのは、民主党政権が誕生した際、内政、外交両面で、混乱なく日本の舵(かじ)取りが出来るのかということだ。こんな懸念をいかに払拭(ふっしょく)するかが民主党の課題になる。

===

Possibility of political reshuffle
　◆政界再編の可能性◆

The LDP has had three different prime ministers in the four years since Junichiro Koizumi--Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and Aso.
　一方、自民党はこの４年間で、小泉純一郎氏から安倍晋三、福田康夫、麻生太郎各氏へと、政権のバトンをつないできた。

Some observers have pointed out that such a frequent change of leaders is proof that the LDP's ability to govern the nation has weakened after having held the reins of government for such a long time.
　頻繁なリーダーの交代は、長く政権を担当してきた自民党の「統治能力の衰え」を示したものとの指摘もある。

The LDP has various structural problems such as a deterioration in its factions' ability to professionally nurture their members, a decrease in the ability of the party to formulate policy and a lack of persuasive appeal among the party's leaders.
　派閥の人材育成機能、政策立案能力の低下、リーダーの求心力の欠如など、党内に数々の構造的問題を抱えている。

We believe the LDP must take this opportunity to dramatically reform itself.
自民党はこれを機会に、解党的な出直しを図り、党改革を進める必要があるのではないか。

The Diet has been divided since the DPJ became the largest force in the House of Councillors after the 2007 upper house election. Since then the dysfunctional handling of Diet business has been repeatedly pointed out.
　２００７年参院選で、民主党が参院第１党になって以来、衆参のねじれ現象の下、国会の機能不全が指摘されてきた。

We wonder whether the the upcoming general election will resolve this situation. The outcome of the election will be closely watched, including any moves toward a political realignment after the election.
　これが今回の衆院選で解消に向かうのかどうか。選挙後の政界再編の動きも含めて総選挙のゆくえが注目される。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2009)
（2009年7月14日01時46分 読売新聞）

srachai's comment,
最下段の英文でtheが二つ重ねられているのはケアレスミス、英文原稿には時々この種のミステイクが見受けられる。

香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「大勢でも孤独」の若者増 ／東京

(Mainichi Japan) July 12, 2009
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Lonely in a crowd
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「大勢でも孤独」の若者増　／東京

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Sony Walkman's debut. For decades, the name of that device was synonymous with the idea of portable music, though these days the iPod can probably claim that title among young people.
　今年は「ウォークマン」が生まれて３０周年だそうだ。若い人は「ｉＰｏｄ」と言われたほうがピンとくるかもしれないが、長い間、ウォークマンは商品名をこえて、「持ち運び型音楽再生装置」の代名詞であった。

I believe that the Walkman drastically changed how people treat being alone. Before the era of the Walkman one of the only ways a person could be really alone was in their own room, but since the popularization of portable music, people can block out the sounds of the outside world with headphones, creating a private little world.
　ウォークマンは、「個人」「ひとり」のあり方を大きく変えたと思う。それまで自分の部屋でしか「ひとり」に戻れなかったのに、イヤホンを耳にあてるだけで、外の音は遮断され、簡単に「ひとりの世界」に入り込むことができる。

The same is possible with portable radios, but with the Walkman people could listen to music from their own record collection, transferred to cassette tapes.
携帯ラジオでもそれは可能だが、ウォークマンの場合、イヤホンから聞こえてくるのはレコードからカセットテープにダビングした自分の好きな音楽だ。

Especially attractive was the ability to make mixed tapes using favorite tracks from a number of records, which must have led to an increasing focus on one's inner world. Even if surrounded by crowds, even if in a public place, a person with headphones on can think: "I am me, alone." I suspect such people who feel this way were certainly not rare in the Walkman era.
　中には、録音の順番にこったり何枚かのアルバムを組み合わせて自分流に編集したテープを聞いている人もいた。そうなるとますます、脳の中に広がるのは「私だけの世界」。そうか、まわりに大勢、人がいても、公共の場にいても、いつだって私は私なんだ、とウォークマンの出現により実感した人も少なくないだろう。

Today's youth immerse themselves in worlds of their own right before our eyes, where they can live secluded from the rest of us. Feeding into these one person worlds, personal devices such as mobile phones and handheld game systems like the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS come on to the market one after another.
　そして今の若者たちは、簡単に「ひとりの世界」を目の前に出現させ、そこにこもることができるようになった。それにぴったりの道具、携帯電話や携帯ゲーム器も次々登場して、あっという間に定着した。

The "make your own world anywhere" idea has gone too far, to the point that even on the train one sees people shamelessly putting on makeup or eating cups of instant noodles as though the train carriage was their own room. It's becoming a major problem. I think it is a good thing if youth can enjoy both being alone and with many other people.
「どこでも自分の世界」が行きすぎて、電車の中でも自分の部屋にいるかのように堂々と化粧をしたりカップラーメンを食べたりする人もいるのはやや問題だが、若い人たちが「みんなでいること」と「ひとりでいること」をうまく使い分けることができるのは、基本的に良いことではないかと思う。

On the other hand, I feel that an increasing number of people are coming to my office saying, "Even when I'm in a crowd I'm lonely." Even when they are at a popular singer's concert or when reading a best-selling novel, these patients can't feel any solidarity for those next to them or those reading the same book. Sometimes they consider making an effort to make a real connection with others, such as heading out to a workers' demonstration or other kinds of activities, but eventually decide not to go, feeling that even if they went to such a gathering, it would be them alone raising their voices.
　ただ、診察室で見ていると、逆に「大勢でいても孤独」と感じる人も増えているような気がする。人気アーティストのライブに行ってもミリオンセラーの小説を読んでも、横の連帯を感じることができない。フリーターなどのデモに参加してみようか、などとも思うが、そこに行っても結局は自分ひとりで声を上げている、という気がするだけじゃないの、と想像すると飛び込めない。

Some may try to connect with people over the Internet, chatting with others through the medium of the keyboard, but when they turn off the power, the feeling of solidarity with those on the other end of the connection fizzles.
ネットで仲間を求め、チャットに参加しても、パソコンの電源を落とすと連帯感も消えてしまう……。

Whether in lively places or not, these patients say, they feel isolated, alienated.
にぎやかな場にいるにもかかわらず、孤独感、疎外感を感じてしまう、という訴えを、よく聞くようになった。

This year is the 30 anniversary of the Walkman. Yet I dream of a day when people will say, "That's enough of being alone," and once more crowd coffee houses that offer their customers the chance to sing their favorite songs together. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
　ウォークマン誕生から３０年。もしかすると今後また、「ひとりはもういいよ、みんなで音楽を聴いたり歌ったりしようよ」と名曲喫茶や歌声喫茶などが復活する日も来るのだろうか、などと夢想してみたりもする。

毎日新聞　2009年7月7日　地方版

農地囲い込み 国際的な行動規範が必要だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 12, 2009)
1st World shouldn't grab 3rd World's farmland
農地囲い込み　国際的な行動規範が必要だ（7月12日付・読売社説）

Major food-importing countries and those that are concerned about securing a stable supply of food have been accelerating moves to buy or rent farmland in developing nations.
　食料輸入国や食料確保に不安を持つ国が、発展途上国の農地を買収したり、借り上げたりする動きを強めている。

Such moves are aimed at cultivating agricultural products on a large scale for the countries acquiring the farmland and making the developing nations in question bases from which the purchasing and leasing nations can import food. They are also aimed at making the developing nations stable food suppliers in preparation for another possible worldwide hike in food prices.
　自国向けの作物を大規模に栽培し、輸入拠点にするためだ。世界的な食料価格高騰の再来に備え、安定した食料調達先とする狙いがある。

Generally speaking, the expansion of investment in agriculture leads to increased food production and better productivity. But if competition for farmland becomes overheated and is unregulated, it could lead to the exploitation of developing nations' farm products.
　一般的には農業投資の拡大は食料増産や生産性向上に役立つ。だが、無秩序な“農地争奪戦”が過熱すれば、途上国などからの農作物の収奪につながりかねない。

The declaration issued by the Group of Eight leaders in their latest summit meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, includes a clause stating that the G-8 will establish an international protocol concerning farmland acquisition. The G-8 nations should quickly make efforts to establish a new norm of conduct for that purpose in close cooperation with developing nations and the United Nations.
　イタリアで開かれた主要国首脳会議（ラクイラ・サミット）の首脳宣言には、農地取得に関する国際ルールを定めることが盛り込まれた。主要８か国は途上国や国連などと連携し、新たな行動規範づくりを急ぐべきだ。

===

New brand of colonialism

Oil-producing countries in the Middle East and China have been rushing to obtain farmland to supply their needs. Using their abundant foreign reserves as capital, these countries have snapped up hundreds of thousands of hectares of farmland abroad to cultivate wheat, corn, cotton and other agricultural products there.
　農地取得に熱心なのは中東産油国と中国だ。豊富な外貨準備をもとに、アジアやアフリカですでに１０万ヘクタール単位の農地を手に入れ、小麦やトウモロコシ、綿花などを栽培する計画を進めている。

Including land deals currently under negotiation, the total amount of farmland purchased or rented by the countries and companies at the forefront of moves to obtain farmland is estimated at 20 million hectares. This means they have annexed farmland with a total area more than four times the total cultivated hectarage in Japan.
　交渉中の案件も含めると、これらの国や企業が購入または賃借した農地は２０００万ヘクタールに達するという。日本の耕地総面積の４倍強の農地が囲い込まれつつある。

For developing nations suffering a shortage of funds for agricultural development, selling or renting out farmland offers corollary advantages in terms of land improvement, maintenance and improvement of irrigation facilities and the introduction of new agricultural technologies.
　農業開発の資金が不足している途上国にとって、農地の提供には、土地改良やかんがい施設の整備、新たな農業技術の導入といった利点がある。

But experts point out that farmland in strife-torn and cash-poor developing nations can end up being exploited, leading to negative consequences such as pollution of water sources and disruption of ecosystems due to excessive land reclamation.
　一方、軍事的、経済的な圧力で、途上国側が不利な条件の下、農地を収奪されたり、無理な開墾によって水の汚染や生態系が破壊される問題も指摘されている。

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warns that the rapacious acquisition of farmland and water represents a new type of colonialism. On this point, it is instructive that there have been cases in which countries and companies keen to obtain farmland were forced to drop their plans to do so in the face of opposition from farmers in developing nations.
　国連食糧農業機関（ＦＡＯ）は「農地や水を丸ごと買い上げるのは新たな植民地主義だ」と警告している。途上国側の農民の反対で取得を断念した例も出始めた。

===

Japan must help write rule

For Japan, the world's largest food-importing country, these developments are a problem that cannot be ignored.
　こうした動きは、世界一の食料輸入国である日本にとっても、座視できない問題だ。

It is crucial that Japan actively participate in the process of establishing an international convention on farmland acquisition and, in doing so, give serious consideration to the food situation and environment in developing nations. Also, one-sided export restrictions by food-exporting countries must be prevented and efforts made to spread sufficient food widely among poor countries.
　国際ルールの策定には日本も積極的に関与し、途上国の食料事情や環境に十分配慮したものにすることが肝要だ。食料輸出国による一方的な輸出規制に歯止めをかけ、貧しい国に食料が行き渡るよう努めることも大事だ。

Rather than participating in the race for farmland overseas, Japan should concentrate on raising its food self-sufficiency rate, which is now at about 40 percent.
　日本が優先すべきは、農地争奪戦への参入ではない。４０％にとどまっている食料自給率を引き上げることである。

About 400,000 hectares of land in the nation have long been uncultivated, and the population of farmers is dwindling. Agriculture revival measures centering on intensive farming and the reuse of idle farmland have just started. The royal road toward food security for the nation starts with Japan using its own farmland.
　国内には４０万ヘクタールもの耕作放棄地があり、農業従事者も減少する一方だ。農地の集約や休耕田の再活用による農業の再生策も始まったばかりだ。自らの農地の活用こそ食料安全保障の王道だろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12, 2009)
（2009年7月12日01時38分 読売新聞）

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。

===

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。

===

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）

Ｇ８経済宣言 世界景気の回復は道半ばだ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 10, 2009)
World economic recovery still needs diligent care
Ｇ８経済宣言　世界景気の回復は道半ばだ（7月10日付・読売社説）

The world economy seems to have left the worst of the financial downturn behind, but continued vigilance is needed.
　世界の景気は、最悪期を脱しつつあるが、まだ警戒が必要だ。

It is significant that leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized powers reconfirmed their cooperation to find ways out of the financial crisis.
　危機の克服に向け、主要８か国（Ｇ８）の首脳が、結束強化を再確認した意義は大きい。

On Wednesday, the G-8 adopted at its summit meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, a declaration relating to various fields, such as the economy and the environment, and a statement on nuclear nonproliferation.
　主要国首脳会議は、経済や環境など各分野の首脳宣言と核不拡散に関する首脳声明を採択した。

Regarding the world economy, the statement said, "While there are signs of stabilization...the situation remains uncertain and significant risks remain to economic and financial stability."
　首脳宣言の世界経済分野では、「安定化の兆しがある。しかし、状況は不確実で、大きなリスクが存在する」と指摘した。

Since the sudden collapse of U.S. banking giant Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. last autumn, two financial summit meetings have been held by the Group of 20 major developed and developing economies, at which agreements were made on cooperation to implement large-scale fiscal spending and easing of monetary policies.
　昨秋のリーマン・ショック後、先進国と新興国による２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）の金融サミットが２回開かれ、大型の財政出動や、金融緩和策で連携してきた。

The G-8 statement on the economy is positive over the fact that the economic downturn seems to have been arrested thanks to international policy coordination, but the statement also acknowledged the continued weakness of the world economy.
　経済宣言は、これまでの政策協調の効果で景気悪化に歯止めがかかってきたことを前向きに受け止めながら、世界経済の弱さにも言及せざるを得なかった。

===

Concerns linger

The biggest concern is over aggravated employment. Jobless rates in the United States and Europe have jumped to nearly 10 percent.
　最も気がかりなのは、雇用情勢の悪化だ。米欧では、失業率が１０％近くに急上昇している。

This year, Japan, the United States and industrialized nations in Europe simultaneously will register negative economic growth rates for the first time since the end of World War II.
　日米欧の先進国は今年、戦後初めて、そろってマイナス成長に陥る。

It is still unclear whether the world economy can recover within this year and return to positive growth by next year.
世界景気が年内に回復に転じ、来年にかけてプラス成長に浮上する道筋はなお不透明だ。

It also is important for G-8 nations and emerging countries such as China and India to enhance cooperation via the G-8.
　Ｇ８の主導で、中国、インドなどの新興国を含めた連携を強めることがますます重要になる。

As the declaration emphasized the taking of all steps necessary, it is vital that no loose reins remain vis-a-vis fiscal policy. The strengthening of employment measures must be expedited.
　宣言が「あらゆる行動を取る」と強調したように、政策の手綱を緩めないことが肝要だ。雇用対策の強化を急がねばならない。

According to the statement, G-8 leaders agreed on the necessity for exit strategies aimed at dealing with the massive fiscal stimulus packages that were created to tackle the crisis. However, it is premature to implement such exit strategies at this point. It is vital to assess the economic climate carefully to determine the optimum time and method for introducing such exit strategies.
　宣言は、危機に対応した経済政策を以前の状態に戻す「出口戦略」の必要性でも合意した。しかし、現時点で動き出すのは時期尚早だろう。いつ、どんな形で出口戦略を作るのか、慎重に景気を見極める必要がある。

===

Free trade paramount

The rise of protectionism also is feared as this could adversely affect any early recovery of the world economy.
　保護貿易主義の台頭も懸念される。世界経済の早期回復に悪影響を与えかねないからだ。

Despite several agreements that have been made to inhibit protectionism, the United States has introduced a "Buy American" provision that requires any public projects funded by stimulus money to use only U.S.-made products. China and Russia also have adopted protectionist measures.
　昨年以来、何度も保護主義阻止で一致したのに、米国が公共工事に米国製品の使用を義務付けるバイ・アメリカン条項を導入し、中国、ロシアでも、保護主義的な措置が相次いだ。

It is not surprising that G-8 leaders reaffirmed antiprotectionism in their statement. Based on lessons learned from the Great Depression, during which protectionist moves aggravated the economic malaise, free trade should be promoted.
　経済宣言が改めて、反保護主義で一致したのは当然だ。かつての世界恐慌が、保護政策によって深刻化した教訓を生かし、自由貿易を推進すべきである。

The G-8 also agreed to aim for the early completion of the Doha Round of trade liberalization talks--which has been stalled for eight years--under the World Trade Organization.
　約８年も難航している世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の新多角的貿易交渉（ドーハ・ラウンド）の早期妥結への決意も表明した。

A compromise between industrialized nations and emerging and developing economies must be found to get the talks back on track. The outlook of the world economy will be greatly affected by whether an agreement can be reached.
　先進国と新興国や途上国が妥協点を探る必要がある。合意できるかどうかで、世界経済の先行きが大きく左右されよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10, 2009)
（2009年7月10日01時27分 読売新聞）

ウイグル族暴動 強圧的な政策では解決しない

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 9, 2009)
China's ethnic policies root cause of Uygur riots
ウイグル族暴動　強圧的な政策では解決しない（7月9日付・読売社説）

The outbreak of bloody riots in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region provides a confirmation of how intractable China's ethnic conflicts are.
　新疆ウイグル自治区で起きた流血の暴動は、中国が抱える民族対立が、いかに根深いものであるかを改めて示した。

In the region's capital, Urumqi, the minority Uygurs staged a demonstration against the authorities, clashing with government paramilitary forces, attacking Han Chinese and setting fire to stores and vehicles.
　区都ウルムチ市内で、当局への抗議デモをしていた少数民族のウイグル族が、軍治安部隊と衝突した際、多数派の漢民族を襲い、商店や車両を焼き打ちにした。

The situation then escalated as Han Chinese took to the streets to protest the riot. The unrest appears to now be spreading to other regions.
　その後、漢民族が報復デモに乗り出すなどエスカレートし、暴動は他の地域へも波及する勢いを見せている。

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday rushed back from Italy to China before the opening of the Group of Eight leading industrialized powers' summit meeting. It seems Hu, as the supreme leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government, is taking the situation very seriously.
　胡錦濤国家主席が８日、主要国首脳会議（サミット）の開催を待たずに、滞在先のイタリアから急きょ帰国したのも、党・政府の最高指導者として、事態を重く受け止めたからだろう。

The riots were triggered when Uygur and Han Chinese seasonal workers clashed at a toy factory in southern Guangdong Province at the end of June. Several thousands of Uygurs participated in a demonstration in Urumqi to demand a full account of what had occurred.
　発端は６月末、広東省のおもちゃ工場でのウイグル族と漢民族の出稼ぎ労働者同士による衝突だった。事件の真相究明を求めて、ウルムチで数千人規模のウイグル族がデモに参加した。

===

Deadlier than the Tibet riots

According to an official announcement, the riots left 156 people dead and more than 1,000 injured, although the ethnicity of the victims was not given.
　公式発表だけで、死者は１５６人、負傷者は１０００人以上に上る。漢民族、ウイグル族の別は不明だ。

The death toll was nearly eight times that of the 20 or so who lost their lives in last year's Tibet riots. We wonder whether excessively tight security by the government forces was partly to blame.
死者数は昨年の大規模チベット騒乱での約２０人の８倍近くに達する。軍治安当局の過剰警備がなかったのかどうか。

In Xinjiang, where many Muslim Uygurs live, separatists and independence movements have started to surface since the downfall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
　イスラム教徒であるウイグル族が多く住む新疆では、１９９０年代初めの旧ソ連崩壊以降、分離独立の動きが目立ち始めた。

However, in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Washington and the United Nations moved to identify some Muslim extremist groups active within Xinjiang as terrorist groups. The Chinese authorities have since carried out thorough crackdown on those groups on the pretext they are no more than antiterrorist measures.
　しかし、２００１年の米同時テロをきっかけに、米国や国連は、新疆内で活動する一部の過激派イスラム組織をテロ集団に認定した。中国当局は、テロ対策を大義名分として、徹底的な過激派の取り締まり作戦を展開した。

===

Govt policy tilted toward Han

China's policy on its ethnic minorities calls for the economic development of remote regions where many non-Han Chinese live, and the subsequent relocation of Han Chinese from the nation's coastal areas to those remote regions.
　中国の少数民族対策は、非漢民族が多く住む辺境地域を経済開発する一方で、沿海部から多数の漢民族を移住させるものだ。

Under this policy, Uygurs in Xinjiang have complained that Han Chinese are being given preferential treatment when it comes to reaping the economic benefits deriving from the development of abundant natural resources in Uygur areas, such as petroleum and natural gas.
　これに対し、新疆のウイグル族は、石油や天然ガスなど豊かな天然資源の開発による経済的な恩恵が、漢民族に優先配分されている、と批判していた。

Dissent among the Uygurs also has been building for long time over ethnic discrimination at workplaces and schools, and a lack of respect shown for their independent language, culture and religion. In addition, a more general suppression of Muslims has been noticeable.
　職場や学校での民族差別や、独自の言語、文化、宗教への軽視に対する長年の不満がうっ積していた。加えて、イスラム教徒への弾圧も目立った。

The current trouble indicates there are limits to the party leadership's policies, which is based on the belief that improvements in living standards can prevent most ethnic unrest.
　今回の暴動は、生活水準を向上させれば、少数民族の反発は少なくなるという党指導部の考えには限界があることを示している。

Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the country's establishment in this autumn, the leadership headed by Hu was nervous about ensuring domestic stability. The riots in Uygur and Tibet should prompt Beijing to reexamine its overbearing policies on its ethnic minorities.
　今秋、建国６０周年を迎える胡錦濤指導部は、国内の安定確保に神経をとがらせている。チベット問題に続き、強圧的な少数民族政策の見直しが迫られよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 9, 2009)
（2009年7月9日01時58分 読売新聞）

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ミサイル発射 北朝鮮包囲網を強化せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 5, 2009)
Stronger intl coalition needed against DPRK
ミサイル発射　北朝鮮包囲網を強化せよ（7月5日付・読売社説）

North Korea's firing of missiles toward the Sea of Japan was a provocative act in that the country ignored warnings from the international community and threatened peace and stability in Northeast Asia. We cannot overlook it.
　国際社会の警告を無視し、北東アジアの平和と安全を脅かす挑発行為である。看過することはできない。

Seven ballistic missiles fired Saturday are believed to be short-range Scud types with a range of 400 to 500 kilometers.
　北朝鮮が日本海に向けて弾道ミサイル７発を発射した。射程４００～５００キロの短距離弾道ミサイル「スカッド」の可能性が高いと見られる。

Pyongyang apparently intended to demonstrate its confrontational stance against Washington on the occasion of the July 4 Independence Day in the United States. It is possible that North Korea will fire more ballistic missiles to increase tension in the region.
　４日の米国の独立記念日を前にあえて米国との対決姿勢を強調したものだ。今後、さらに弾道ミサイルを発射し、地域の緊張を一段と高める恐れもある。

North Korea has fired a total of 10 surface-to-ship short-range missiles on several occasions since it conducted a nuclear test in May.
　北朝鮮は５月の核実験後、地対艦短距離ミサイル計１０発を数回に分けて発射している。

The missiles fired this time have longer ranges. The firing of such missiles clearly goes against U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, adopted on June 12. The resolution calls on North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
　今回発射したのは、より射程の長い弾道ミサイルだ。「弾道ミサイル計画に関連するすべての活動の停止」を要求する６月１２日採択の国連安全保障理事会決議１８７４などに明確に違反している。

It was a matter of course for Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura to issue a statement expressing strong condemnation of North Korea immediately after the missiles were fired.
　河村官房長官が直ちに、北朝鮮に「厳重に抗議」する声明を発表したのは、当然である。

===

G-8 should warn Pyongyang

A Group of Eight summit meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, is scheduled to start Wednesday. It is important that G-8 leaders send a clear message that they will not tolerate North Korea's nuclear and missile development.
　８日には、イタリア中部ラクイラで主要８か国（Ｇ８）首脳会議が開幕する。Ｇ８首脳が、北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を容認しないという明確なメッセージを出すことが大切だ。

Prime Minister Taro Aso also needs to strengthen an international coalition against North Korea through individual meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao and others.
　さらに麻生首相は、オバマ米大統領、メドベージェフ露大統領、胡錦濤中国国家主席らとの個別会談を通じて、対北朝鮮包囲網を強化する必要がある。

For the time being, the nation's focus should be to implement sanctions against North Korea based on Resolution 1874. The sanctions ban weapons exports by the North, authorize inspections of cargo transported to and from North Korea and impose financial sanctions on Pyongyang.
　当面、重視すべきは、安保理決議１８７４に基づく制裁措置を着実に実施することだ。制裁は、武器輸出禁止、貨物検査、金融制裁の３本柱で構成される。

Weapons exports, which include ballistic missiles and related technology, are an important source of foreign currency for North Korea.
　弾道ミサイルや関連技術を含む武器輸出は、北朝鮮にとって有力な外貨獲得手段である。

A U.S. Navy ship recently tracked a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying weapons, and the North Korean ship was forced to reverse course. With this kind of action, the freeze on North Korea-related financial assets and other measures, it is important to effectively put pressure on North Korea.
　最近、武器を運搬している疑いがある北朝鮮の貨物船を米海軍艦船が追跡し、貨物船は航路変更を余儀なくされた。こうした手法や北朝鮮関連の金融資産の凍結などを通じて、北朝鮮に実効性のある圧力をかけることが重要だ。

===

Japan's technology misused

The government plans to soon submit to the Diet a bill to enable the Japan Coast Guard to inspect cargo carried by vessels sailing to and from North Korea. The bill should be enacted as soon as possible so Japan can play its part in strengthening the international coalition against North Korea.
　日本政府は近く、海上保安庁が主体となり、北朝鮮に出入りする船舶の貨物検査を実施するための特別措置法案を国会に提出する。日本が包囲網の一翼を担えるよう早期成立を図るべきだ。

Late last month, police arrested the president of a North Korea-linked trading company for alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law in connection with an attempt to illegally export to Myanmar a magnetic measuring device believed necessary for developing long-range ballistic missile systems.
　先月末、長距離弾道ミサイル開発に必要とされる磁気測定装置をミャンマーに不正輸出しようとした北朝鮮系商社社長が外国為替・貿易法違反容疑で逮捕された。

It is likely that Japan's technology has been used in North Korea's missile development to a significant degree. Concerned authorities should crack down on illegal technology transfers even more strictly.
　北朝鮮のミサイル開発には日本の技術がかなり利用されてきたとされる。不正な技術移転は一層厳しく取り締まることが必要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5, 2009)
（2009年7月5日01時55分 読売新聞）

ＩＡＥＡ新体制 実効ある核拡散防止に動け

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 4, 2009)
Amano's appointment opportunity for IAEA
ＩＡＥＡ新体制　実効ある核拡散防止に動け（7月4日付・読売社説）

It can be described as an endorsement of Japan's achievements in the fields of the peaceful use of nuclear power and prevention of nuclear proliferation.
　原子力の平和利用と、核拡散防止の両面で、日本の実績が信任された結果でもあろう。

Yukiya Amano, ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, has been elected to serve as the next director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
　在ウィーンの天野之弥(ゆきや)代表部大使が、国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）の次期事務局長選で当選を決めた。

For Japan, Amano's appointment means his name can be added to the short list of Japanese that head international organizations, helping to boost Japan's presence in the international community.
　日本にとっては、数少ない国際機関のトップのポストだ。日本の発言力強化にもつながる。

We hope Amano will demonstrate leadership as the successor to current IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, who will leave his post in November.
天野氏には、１１月に退任するエルバラダイ事務局長の後任として、大いに指導力を発揮してもらいたい。

===

North Korea, Iran scofflaws

The IAEA is an important international body established to promote the peaceful use of nuclear power and prevent nuclear technology being diverted for military purposes. ElBaradei and the organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
　ＩＡＥＡは、原子力の平和利用を促進する一方、軍事転用されないよう監視する役割を担った重要な国際機関だ。２００５年、エルバラダイ事務局長とＩＡＥＡはノーベル平和賞を受賞している。

The IAEA has failed, however, to stop the nuclear development programs of North Korea and Iran.
　だが、ＩＡＥＡは、結局、北朝鮮やイランの核開発を阻止することにはことごとく失敗した。

In response to the revelation in the early 1990s that Iraq had a secret nuclear program, the IAEA adopted an Additional Protocol to enable it to inspect undeclared nuclear facilities at short notice.
　１９９０年代初めにイラクが秘密裏に核開発していた事実が発覚し、ＩＡＥＡは、未申告の施設でも短時間の通告で査察ができるとした追加議定書を採択した。

But this power proved to be useless in respect of North Korea, which ignored the protocol, declared its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and is overtly developing nuclear arms.
　しかし、北朝鮮のように、議定書に見向きもせず、核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）からの脱退を宣言して公然と核兵器開発を進める国には、何の役にもたたなかった。

Iran, which has signed the protocol, but has not ratified it, is openly pursuing uranium enrichment in defiance of a sanctions resolution imposed by the U.N. Security Council.
　追加議定書に署名はしたが未批准のイランも、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議を無視して、ウラン濃縮活動を公然と続けている。

How can effective nonproliferation measures be brought to bear to stop other countries following in the footsteps of North Korea and Iran? This weighty responsibility rests on Amano's shoulders.
　北朝鮮やイランに追随する国を出さないよう、実効ある核拡散防止策をいかに具体化するか。それが天野氏が担う重い課題だ。

Spurred by increasing energy demand and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, there is a global trend to increase nuclear power use. Amid this situation, curbing the diffusion of technologies that can be utilized for nuclear weapons development is one key measure to enhance nuclear nonproliferation.
　エネルギー需要の拡大や温室効果ガス排出削減の見地から、世界で、原子力利用は拡大する趨勢(すうせい)にある。その中で、核兵器開発につながる技術の拡散に歯止めをかけることは、拡散防止強化の重要な一策となる。

===

Divisions must be bridged

A number of ideas have been proposed to bolster nuclear nonproliferation. One proposal calls for putting uranium enrichment and nuclear reprocessing facilities under international management, while another suggestion is to guarantee the stable supply of nuclear fuel to a country that shuts its nuclear enrichment or reprocessing facilities.
　ウラン濃縮や再処理施設を国際管理下に置く。そうした施設を断念した国には核燃料の安定的な供給を保証する。そんな構想が、すでにいくつも提唱されてきた。

But these ideas are far from realization due to opposition from developing countries, which say that the adoption of such ideas would lead to the creation of a world of nuclear haves and have-nots. About one-third of the votes cast by the IAEA's Board of Governors were not cast for Amano, in an effective vote of no-confidence against him, and many of those votes apparently were cast by developing countries.
　だが、「持つ国」と「持たざる国」に二分化するもの、とする途上国側の強い反発もあって、実現には程遠いのが現状だ。天野氏に対する３分の１近い不信任票も多くはこうした途上国とされる。

After his election to the top IAEA post, Amano stressed at a press conference that "solidarity of all the member states...is absolutely necessary." The comment is a reflection of his determination to resolve differences among IAEA member countries and to simultaneously pursue the goals of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation. Amano will be under pressure to translate his words into deeds.
　当選後の記者会見で、天野氏は「すべての加盟国が結束する必要がある」と強調した。対立を解消し、平和利用と不拡散強化の両立を図りたいとの意欲の表れだろう。具体化へ行動が問われる。

The IAEA also is tasked with dealing with new types of threats, including nuclear terrorism. Amano has his work cut out.
　核テロ防止など新たな脅威への対処も、ＩＡＥＡの責務だ。天野氏が取り組むべき難題は多い。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4, 2009)
（2009年7月4日01時52分 読売新聞）The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jul. 4, 2009)
Amano's appointment opportunity for IAEA
ＩＡＥＡ新体制　実効ある核拡散防止に動け（7月4日付・読売社説）

It can be described as an endorsement of Japan's achievements in the fields of the peaceful use of nuclear power and prevention of nuclear proliferation.
　原子力の平和利用と、核拡散防止の両面で、日本の実績が信任された結果でもあろう。

Yukiya Amano, ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, has been elected to serve as the next director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
　在ウィーンの天野之弥(ゆきや)代表部大使が、国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）の次期事務局長選で当選を決めた。

For Japan, Amano's appointment means his name can be added to the short list of Japanese that head international organizations, helping to boost Japan's presence in the international community.
　日本にとっては、数少ない国際機関のトップのポストだ。日本の発言力強化にもつながる。

We hope Amano will demonstrate leadership as the successor to current IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, who will leave his post in November.
天野氏には、１１月に退任するエルバラダイ事務局長の後任として、大いに指導力を発揮してもらいたい。

===

North Korea, Iran scofflaws

The IAEA is an important international body established to promote the peaceful use of nuclear power and prevent nuclear technology being diverted for military purposes. ElBaradei and the organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
　ＩＡＥＡは、原子力の平和利用を促進する一方、軍事転用されないよう監視する役割を担った重要な国際機関だ。２００５年、エルバラダイ事務局長とＩＡＥＡはノーベル平和賞を受賞している。

The IAEA has failed, however, to stop the nuclear development programs of North Korea and Iran.
　だが、ＩＡＥＡは、結局、北朝鮮やイランの核開発を阻止することにはことごとく失敗した。

In response to the revelation in the early 1990s that Iraq had a secret nuclear program, the IAEA adopted an Additional Protocol to enable it to inspect undeclared nuclear facilities at short notice.
　１９９０年代初めにイラクが秘密裏に核開発していた事実が発覚し、ＩＡＥＡは、未申告の施設でも短時間の通告で査察ができるとした追加議定書を採択した。

But this power proved to be useless in respect of North Korea, which ignored the protocol, declared its withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and is overtly developing nuclear arms.
　しかし、北朝鮮のように、議定書に見向きもせず、核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）からの脱退を宣言して公然と核兵器開発を進める国には、何の役にもたたなかった。

Iran, which has signed the protocol, but has not ratified it, is openly pursuing uranium enrichment in defiance of a sanctions resolution imposed by the U.N. Security Council.
　追加議定書に署名はしたが未批准のイランも、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議を無視して、ウラン濃縮活動を公然と続けている。

How can effective nonproliferation measures be brought to bear to stop other countries following in the footsteps of North Korea and Iran? This weighty responsibility rests on Amano's shoulders.
　北朝鮮やイランに追随する国を出さないよう、実効ある核拡散防止策をいかに具体化するか。それが天野氏が担う重い課題だ。

Spurred by increasing energy demand and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions, there is a global trend to increase nuclear power use. Amid this situation, curbing the diffusion of technologies that can be utilized for nuclear weapons development is one key measure to enhance nuclear nonproliferation.
　エネルギー需要の拡大や温室効果ガス排出削減の見地から、世界で、原子力利用は拡大する趨勢(すうせい)にある。その中で、核兵器開発につながる技術の拡散に歯止めをかけることは、拡散防止強化の重要な一策となる。

===

Divisions must be bridged

A number of ideas have been proposed to bolster nuclear nonproliferation. One proposal calls for putting uranium enrichment and nuclear reprocessing facilities under international management, while another suggestion is to guarantee the stable supply of nuclear fuel to a country that shuts its nuclear enrichment or reprocessing facilities.
　ウラン濃縮や再処理施設を国際管理下に置く。そうした施設を断念した国には核燃料の安定的な供給を保証する。そんな構想が、すでにいくつも提唱されてきた。

But these ideas are far from realization due to opposition from developing countries, which say that the adoption of such ideas would lead to the creation of a world of nuclear haves and have-nots. About one-third of the votes cast by the IAEA's Board of Governors were not cast for Amano, in an effective vote of no-confidence against him, and many of those votes apparently were cast by developing countries.
　だが、「持つ国」と「持たざる国」に二分化するもの、とする途上国側の強い反発もあって、実現には程遠いのが現状だ。天野氏に対する３分の１近い不信任票も多くはこうした途上国とされる。

After his election to the top IAEA post, Amano stressed at a press conference that "solidarity of all the member states...is absolutely necessary." The comment is a reflection of his determination to resolve differences among IAEA member countries and to simultaneously pursue the goals of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and nuclear nonproliferation. Amano will be under pressure to translate his words into deeds.
　当選後の記者会見で、天野氏は「すべての加盟国が結束する必要がある」と強調した。対立を解消し、平和利用と不拡散強化の両立を図りたいとの意欲の表れだろう。具体化へ行動が問われる。

The IAEA also is tasked with dealing with new types of threats, including nuclear terrorism. Amano has his work cut out.
　核テロ防止など新たな脅威への対処も、ＩＡＥＡの責務だ。天野氏が取り組むべき難題は多い。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 4, 2009)
（2009年7月4日01時52分 読売新聞）