英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun February 25, 2014
EU, Russia have grave responsibility to help Ukraine regain stability
ウクライナ政変　安定回復へ欧露の責任は重い（2月25日付・読売社説）

International cooperation is needed to help Ukraine regain its stability, a country beset by the rival influences of the European Union and Russia.
　欧州とロシアのはざまで揺れるウクライナの安定を回復させるため、国際的な協力が必要だ。

The administration of President Viktor Yanukovych has effectively collapsed, and Yanukovych was forced to leave Kiev in the face of fierce antigovernment protests.
　ウクライナのヤヌコビッチ政権が事実上崩壊した。大統領は、激しい反政府デモの中で、首都キエフからの退去を余儀なくされた。

The parliament has approved opposition leader Oleksandr Turchinov as acting head of state and decided to hold a presidential election in May. Yet, how the current chaotic situation will unfold remains uncertain.
　議会は、野党のトゥルチノフ氏を大統領代行として承認し、５月に大統領選を実施すると決議したが、混乱の行方は不透明だ。

Yanukovych’s downfall was triggered when he reneged on plans to sign an agreement with the EU in November, centering on a free-trade pact.
　ヤヌコビッチ氏失脚のきっかけは、欧州連合（ＥＵ）と、自由貿易を柱とする協定で合意したにもかかわらず、昨年１１月、署名の段階で見送りを決めたことだ。

Wary of seeing Ukraine move closer to the EU, Russia is believed to have made blatant approaches to the country by promising large-scale economic assistance in return for postponing conclusion of the EU accord.
　ウクライナとＥＵの接近を警戒するロシアが、協定締結延期の見返りに大規模な経済支援を約束するなど、露骨な働きかけを行ったためと見られている。

The opposition and its supporters strongly protested and launched antigovernment demonstrations. Fighting between the opposition and security forces, which left more than 80 people dead this month, doomed the administration.
　野党とその支持者は強く反発し、反政府デモを始めた。今月に入り、治安部隊との衝突で、８０人以上が死亡したことが、政権の命取りとなったと言えよう。

Historically, Ukraine’s western region has been strongly influenced by the West, while the eastern region looks toward Moscow. Ever since its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, pro-Russian groups have attached great importance to the country’s ties with Russia, while pro-EU factions have been trying to bring the country closer to the EU. The rivalry between the two groups resulted in repeated changes in administration.
　ウクライナは、歴史的に、西部は欧州、東部はロシアの強い影響を受けてきた。１９９１年の旧ソ連からの独立以降も、ロシアとの関係を重視する親露派と、ＥＵとの接近を図る親欧州派が拮抗(きっこう)し、政権交代を繰り返した。

Shift to West likely

Yanukovych, seen as pro-Russian, was forced from power by pro-EU groups, and these groups, including former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who had been imprisoned, seized power. Ukraine is likely to shift further toward the EU.
　親露派と見なされたヤヌコビッチ氏が権力の座から追われ、服役中だったチモシェンコ元首相ら親欧州派が実権を握ったことで、ウクライナは今後、ＥＵへの傾斜を強めることになるだろう。

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hopes to use the success of the Sochi Olympics to move forward with the economic reintegration of the former Soviet bloc, probably feels as if he has been doused with cold water.
　ソチ冬季五輪の成功で、旧ソ連圏の経済的再統合に弾みを付けたいプーチン大統領は、冷水を浴びせられた思いではないか。

If Putin, in an attempt to influence Ukraine, takes such hard-line measures as restricting supplies of natural gas to Ukraine, as Russia has in the past, the current turmoil will only worsen. We hope Russia will be prudent.
　プーチン氏が、ウクライナに影響力を行使しようとして、過去に行った天然ガス供給制限のような強硬措置をとるようなことがあれば、混乱は深刻化するだけだ。自重を求めたい。

The EU should coordinate its views with Russia to prevent the situation in Ukraine from deteriorating. We highly appreciate German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s telephone conversation with Putin in which they agreed that Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be upheld. They also concurred that splitting Ukraine into eastern and western regions should be avoided.
　ＥＵは、事態悪化を防ぐため、ロシアとも調整しつつ関与すべきである。メルケル独首相が、プーチン氏と電話会談し、ウクライナの「領土の一体性維持」の必要性で一致し、東西分裂の回避で足並みをそろえたのは評価できる。

With its massive external debt, Ukraine is said to be in danger of default. Assistance from the international community, including the EU, is the key to the country regaining stability.
　ウクライナは、巨額の対外債務を抱え、債務不履行の危険さえ指摘されている。ＥＵを始めとする国際社会の支援が、安定回復の鍵を握っている。

Ukraine, which experienced the devastating Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, has inked an accord with Japan on nuclear issues, exchanging information and experts. We should keep a keen eye on how developments will turn out in the days ahead.
　チェルノブイリの原子力発電所事故を経験したウクライナは、日本と協定を結んで情報交換や専門家交流を行っている。政権崩壊の行方を注視したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 25, 2014)
（2014年2月25日01時24分 読売新聞）