英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun March 27, 2014
Crimea must not become a precedent for stealing land from another country
Ｇ７ＶＳロシア　クリミア編入を前例にするな（3月26日付・読売社説）

Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula must not become a precedent for one nation stealing another nation’s land by force. The international community should reinforce its united front against Moscow.
　ロシアによるクリミア半島編入が、他国の領土を力で奪うあしき前例とならぬよう、国際社会は一層結束すべきだ。

Leaders of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations−Japan, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada−recently met in The Hague over the upheaval in Ukraine, denouncing Russia’s annexation as a “clear violation of international law.” The leaders decided to suspend their participation in the Group of Eight summit meeting to be held in Sochi until Moscow changes course.
　日米欧の先進７か国（Ｇ７）は、ウクライナ情勢を巡りハーグで首脳会議を開き、編入を「国際法違反」と改めて非難した。ロシアが方向転換するまで、Ｇ８サミット（主要国首脳会議）への参加を停止すると決めた。

The G-7 leaders also warned they will impose tough economic sanctions on Russia if the nation further escalates its actions, on top of penalties they have already imposed.
　ロシアが状況を悪化させるなら、現在の制裁に加え、厳しい経済制裁を科すとも警告した。

The success of the G-7 nations in building a united front and showing their resolve against Russia will undeniably strengthen the pressure they have put on the country.
　Ｇ７が団結して強い意思を示したことは、ロシアに対するさらなる圧力となろう。

At the meeting, Japan pledged up to \150 billion in aid to Ukraine, which now faces the risk of default. It is essential for Japan to join hands with the United States and European countries to support Ukraine, to stabilize the situation.
　首脳会議で日本は、ウクライナに対して、最大約１５００億円の支援を表明した。ウクライナ経済は債務不履行（デフォルト）も懸念される事態だ。情勢安定化のためにも、米国や欧州と共に支援を行うことが不可欠である。

In reaction to the decisions of the G-7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is not clinging to the G-8 format. He suggested putting more focus on the U.N. Security Council and the summit meetings of the Group of 20 nations.
　Ｇ７の決定に対し、ロシアのラブロフ外相は、「Ｇ８に固執しない」と述べ、国連安全保障理事会や、主要２０か国・地域によるサミットを重視する意向を示した。

‘Russianization’ progressing

The reason behind Lavrov maintaining his assertive stance is the overwhelming public support in Russia for the annexation of Crimea.
　外相が強気の姿勢を崩さない背景には、クリミア編入に対するロシア国民の圧倒的支持がある。

Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently concluded that his strategy to annex the Crimean Peninsula was successful. It is unlikely that receiving some condemnation from the international community will be an incentive for Putin to give up Crimea. Ukraine has decided to withdraw its troops from Crimea, and the “Russianization” of the region, such as the circulation of the ruble, has begun.
　プーチン大統領は、自らの編入戦略が奏功したと受け止め、国際的に多少非難されても、クリミアを手放さないつもりなのだろう。クリミアでは、ウクライナ軍の撤収が決まり、ルーブルが流通し始めるなど「ロシア化」が進む。

There is one worrying move from Russia−the nation is now concentrating its troops on the southern and eastern borders of Ukraine.
　懸念されるのは、ロシアがウクライナの東部や南部の国境周辺に軍を集結させていることだ。

If Russia begins a military intervention against Ukraine in regions other than Crimea, there is no doubt the United States and other G-7 nations will impose full-scale economic sanctions on Russia. The sanctions will not only hit the Russian economy, but they will also cause enormous repercussions to the global economy.
　ロシアが、クリミア以外のウクライナ国内に軍事的に介入した場合、米国始めＧ７各国は本格的な経済制裁に乗り出すに違いない。ロシアだけでなく、世界経済に甚大な影響が及ぶのは確実だ。

It is crucial that the international observers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe enter Ukraine as soon as possible, and begin monitoring the security situation there to prevent tensions with Ukrainian citizens of Russian descent, which would give Russia the pretext for directly intervening in Ukraine.
　ロシア系住民の動揺を防ぎ、ロシアに介入の口実を与えないためにも、全欧安保協力機構（ＯＳＣＥ）による国際監視団が一刻も早く、ウクライナに赴き、治安情勢の監視を始めることが必要だ。

The Crimea issue has massive implications for Japan, which faces China’s repeated intrusions into Japanese territorial waters in areas near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
　クリミア問題は、沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺で中国による領海侵入を繰り返し受けている日本にとっても重要な意味を持つ。

During the G-7 meeting, Abe told other leaders that Japan will not tolerate any attempt to change the status quo by force. He then went on to say that the Ukranian issue is a problem for the entire international community, including Asia, and multiple nations reportedly agreed with his remarks.
　今回のＧ７首脳会議で安倍首相が、力を背景とした現状変更は許せない、と踏み込んだ上で、「アジアなど国際社会全体の問題だ」と指摘したところ、複数の国から賛同意見が寄せられたという。

It will be important for Japan to assert the legitimacy of its position on the Senkaku issue to the international community, and obtain the understanding of other nations over the issue.
　尖閣諸島についても、日本の立場の正当性を主張し、国際的理解を得ていくことが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2014)
（2014年3月26日01時47分 読売新聞）