英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun December 26, 2013
In intl crisis, govt must lay down new weapons-export principles
ＰＫＯ弾薬提供　武器輸出の新原則策定を急げ（12月26日付・読売社説）

A country working to support nation-building efforts in Africa under rigorous conditions has every reason to help another country engaged in the same task, a duty that has been taken for granted internationally.
　厳しい環境の下、アフリカの国造りに共に取り組む仲間を助けるのは、国際常識である。

The Ground Self-Defense Force, now participating in a U.N. mission in South Sudan—officially called the U.N. Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS)—has provided South Korean forces with 10,000 bullets for rifles without asking for payment in exchange. The bullets were given via the UNMISS authorities. The GSDF’s bullet offer was the first of its kind to occur overseas.
　国連南スーダン派遣団（ＵＮＭＩＳＳ）に参加中の陸上自衛隊が、小銃弾１万発をＵＮＭＩＳＳ経由で韓国軍に無償提供した。海外での自衛隊の弾薬譲渡は初めてだ。

Amid a rapid decline in the African country’s security situation, South Korean forces were working to protect the safety of about 15,000 refugees in their assigned area, surrounded by armed rebel groups.
　南スーダンの治安情勢が悪化する中、韓国軍は宿営地に１万５０００人の避難民を保護し、反政府勢力から包囲されていた。

It is clear the Japanese government had no option but to supply bullets to the South Korean forces. The action was needed from the standpoint of humanity and urgency, given that the lives of South Korean soldiers and local refugees were at risk.
Supplying the bullets was essential for supporting the global significance of U.N. peacekeeping operations. No participants in the UNMISS mission except the GSDF were carrying bullets that could be used for rifles carried by South Korean soldiers.
　韓国兵や避難民の生命にかかわる人道性や緊急性、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）という公共性、ＵＮＭＩＳＳ参加部隊で日本以外に同種の弾薬を携行していないことなど、どの観点からも弾薬を提供しない選択肢はなかった。

South Korean forces telephoned the GSDF unit and expressed their gratitude for the bullets.
　韓国軍から現地の陸自部隊に感謝の電話もあった。

There may be cases in which the GSDF asks other nations to support its forces or come to its rescue. Making steady efforts to extend assistance comparable to the recent case of supplying bullets and increasing cooperation with foreign forces will ensure the security of GSDF personnel operating overseas.
陸自が今後、他国に支援や救援を頼むケースもあろう。今回のような協力を重ね、国際的連帯を強めることが、陸自の安全確保にも役立つ。

Regarding the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law, which was the subject of questions during Diet sessions, the government has long said it does not expect requests from other nations to provide weapons and ammunition, and that if such a request were to be filed, it would reject the request. This line of reasoning apparently reflects the fact that it is extremely unusual for Japan to be asked by any other country to supply weapons and ammunition, even if it is a request that could affect the survival of the requesting nation’s forces.
　政府はＰＫＯ協力法に関する国会答弁で、武器・弾薬の提供は想定されず、要請されても断るとしてきた。部隊の生存にかかわる武器・弾薬の提供を他国に要請される事態は極めて異例だからだ。

Civilian control effective

In deciding on the bullet offer, the government held a meeting of four relevant Cabinet members under the National Security Council and a Cabinet conference. In these meetings, the government concluded the bullet supply would be treated as an exception to its three rules on arms exports and its official interpretation of the peace cooperation law.
　政府は今回、国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合や閣議を開き、ＵＮＭＩＳＳへの弾薬提供を、武器輸出３原則やＰＫＯ協力法の政府見解の例外扱いとすることを決めた。

Given the lack of procedural defects in the latest decision, it is safe to say our nation’s principle of civilian control has fulfilled its purpose.
　手続き上の欠陥はなく、文民統制も機能したと言える。

In 2011, the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda relaxed the principles regarding arms exports, thus making it possible to offer weapons for peace-building and international cooperation purposes. However, the offer of arms was limited to foreign governments, meaning such institutions as the UNMISS authorities were not included in the list of organs to which our country would supply arms.
　一昨年に野田内閣が３原則を緩和し、平和構築・国際協力目的の武器提供は可能になった。ただ、提供先は国に限られ、ＵＮＭＩＳＳなど国際機関は対象外だ。

The government is currently considering fundamentally reexamining the three principles. Taking the recent bullet supply into consideration, the government should lay down a new set of flexible and realistic principles as quickly as possible.
　政府は、武器輸出３原則の抜本的見直しを検討している。今回の事例も踏まえ、柔軟で現実的な新原則を早期に策定すべきだ。

With the deterioration of the South Sudanese situation in mind, the U.N. Security Council has adopted a resolution to shore up the UNMISS mission to better protect the safety of local residents. About 6,000 staff will be sent to South Sudan, where they will be united with about 7,500 military and police personnel already deployed there.
　国連安全保障理事会は、現地情勢の悪化を踏まえ、住民保護の強化のため、ＵＮＭＩＳＳを増強する決議を採択した。展開中の軍事・警察要員約７５００人に加え、約６０００人を増派する。

It is imperative the U.N. resolution be implemented as promptly as possible, to resolve the South Sudanese situation.
　事態の沈静化に向けて、決議を迅速に実施することが肝要だ。

About 30 months after its independence, South Sudan is on the brink of a civil war, as a conflict between its president and former vice president has grown into a tribal conflict. International engagement is essential for preventing the conflict from degenerating into civil war.
　独立から２年半たつ南スーダンは、大統領と前副大統領の対立が部族紛争に発展し、内戦の瀬戸際にある。これを阻止するには、国際社会の関与が欠かせない。

The United States has begun to intermediate between the warring parties with the aim of seeking a solution to the problem through dialogue.
　米国は、当事者間の対話による解決に向けて仲介を始めた。

Japan should contribute to the international peace initiative in South Sudan, a task that should be carried out with close attention to the safety of GSDF personnel operating in that country.
　日本も、陸自隊員の安全に細心の注意を払いながら、国際社会の和平努力に貢献したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26, 2013)
（2013年12月26日01時32分 読売新聞）