英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Despite UNSC resolution, investigation of MH17 downing still faces obstacles
撃墜非難決議　国際調査にはまだ障害がある

To ensure that the truth behind this tragic incident can be quickly determined, all parties involved in the conflict and other nations that have a stake in the matter, including Russia, should positively cooperate with an international investigation team.
　悲惨な事件の真相を早期に究明するため、ロシアなど関係国と紛争当事者は国際調査団に積極的に協力すべきだ。

The U.N. Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines passenger plane over eastern Ukraine last week.
　ウクライナ東部で発生したマレーシア航空旅客機の撃墜事件について、国連安全保障理事会が、強く非難する決議を全会一致で採択した。

The resolution called on all states to cooperate fully with efforts to ensure that those responsible for this incident will be held to account. It demanded that pro-Russian militant groups that control the area where the plane came down immediately provide international investigators “safe, secure, full and unrestricted access to the site” and “refrain from any actions that may compromise the integrity of the crash site.”
　決議は、事件の責任者を追及するよう国際社会に呼びかけた。現場を支配する親ロシア派武装集団に対しては、「調査団の安全、完全かつ無制限の立ち入り」と「現場の保存」を要求している。

In the days after the airliner was shot down, armed rebels brazenly interfered with investigators’ efforts to examine the crash site and removed bodies of the victims. Some of their actions appeared to constitute tampering with evidence, such as their quick retrieval of the black boxes that contain flight data and records of communications between the flight crew and others.
　武装集団は事件後、調査団の立ち入りや犠牲者の遺体の搬出を公然と妨害した。飛行データや通信内容を記録した「ブラックボックス」をいち早く現場から回収するなど、証拠隠滅と見られる動きもしてきた。

The Security Council’s adoption of a legally binding resolution demanding the correction of these actions is significant.
　国連安保理が、法的拘束力を持つ決議によって、その行動の是正を求めた意味は小さくない。

The militants accepted the resolution and have handed two black boxes to Malaysian authorities. They have also relented on their initial refusal to hand over the victims’ bodies. Although this has come far too late, they are steps in the right direction.
　武装集団は決議を受け、２個のブラックボックスをマレーシア当局に引き渡した。犠牲者の遺体搬出にも応じた。遅きに失した対応だが、一歩前進ではある。

Ukraine and the United States have criticized the Russian military’s involvement in this incident, including its provision of surface-to-air missiles to the pro-Russian militants. Their accusations are backed by evidence, including satellite images of the missile launch and intercepted conversations and communications between the militants after the plane was shot down.
　ウクライナや米国は、親露派に対する地対空ミサイル供与など、ロシア軍の事件への関与を非難してきた。ミサイル発射の衛星画像や、撃墜後の武装集団の会話傍受記録などを根拠としたものだ。

Onus on Moscow

As the main supporter of the rebels, Russia has an important role to play in the investigation.
　武装集団の後ろ盾であるロシアが果たすべき役割は大きい。

Moscow supported the resolution in an apparent bid to avoid becoming internationally isolated at a time when Britain, France and Germany are considering tightening sanctions on Russia as anti-Russia sentiment grows in Europe, where most of the passengers on Flight MH17 came from.
　ロシアが決議に賛成したのは、多くの犠牲者を出した欧州で反露感情が高まり、英独仏が対露制裁強化を検討する中で、国際的な孤立を回避する狙いからだろう。

However, there is no guarantee efforts to unravel the truth will progress smoothly. Russia continues to say one thing while it does another.
　しかし、真相究明が円滑に進む保証はない。ロシアが言行不一致を続けているためだ。

Although Moscow has indicated its willingness to cooperate with the investigation, it still denies involvement in the incident. It has lambasted Ukraine for permitting civilian aircraft to fly through airspace over a conflict zone as “criminal,” and also has been trying to shift the blame for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines plane.
　ロシアは、調査に協力する姿勢を示しながら、事件への関与を否定している。ウクライナが戦闘地域上空での民間機航行を認めていたことを「犯罪的だ」などと批判し、責任転嫁も図っている。

We think Russian President Vladimir Putin has a responsibility to exercise the influence he wields over the armed groups and supply whatever information he possesses to ensure the international investigation team can get to the bottom of what really happened.
　プーチン露大統領には、国際調査団による真相究明が前進するよう、自らが保有する情報を提供するとともに、武装集団への影響力を行使する責任がある。

The investigation will clarify whether the claims made by Washington and Moscow have reason on their side. The International Civil Aviation Organization and nations caught up in this incident must ensure that a fair, transparent investigation can be conducted.
　米露どちらの主張に理があるかは、調査が明らかにするだろう。関係国や国際民間航空機関（ＩＣＡＯ）は、公平かつ透明な形で調査を進めなければならない。

The Security Council resolution also demanded that all military activities immediately cease in the area surrounding the crash site. Using this opportunity, the Ukrainian military and the pro-Russian armed groups should refrain from hostilities and work toward an immediate ceasefire.
　安保理決議は、現場周辺での軍事活動の停止も訴えた。これを機に、ウクライナ軍と親露派武装集団は戦闘行動を自制し、早期停戦に動くことが求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2014)