英字新聞

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。

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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。

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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）