英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prepare environment to promote mutual visits between Abe, Putin
日露外相会談　首脳往来の環境を整備したい

Continuing high-level talks with Russia is essential in order to make progress on the issue of the northern territories. Persistent effort is the key.
　北方領土問題の進展には、ロシアと高いレベルの対話を粘り強く続けることが欠かせない。

Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Tokyo on Friday. The two agreed to prepare for a summit meeting in Russia’s southern city of Sochi in early May.
　岸田外相が、来日したロシアのラブロフ外相と会談し、５月上旬にロシア南部ソチで日露首脳会談を行う方向で準備を進めることで一致した。

At a joint press conference, Kishida referred to the issue of the northern territories, saying: “We had a positive discussion aimed at formulating a solution acceptable to both sides, which I believe will bring momentum to the negotiations.”
　岸田氏は共同記者会見で、北方領土問題について「双方に受け入れ可能な解決策を作成すべく、交渉に弾みを与える前向きな議論が行えた」と強調した。

Lavrov responded by saying that Moscow is ready to continue dialogue with Tokyo. Compared with the stubborn attitude he showed after his September meeting with Kishida − Lavrov at that time unilaterally denied that they had even discussed the northern territories at the meeting − we can say that the Russian minister was more flexible this time.
　ラブロフ氏は「対話を継続する用意がある」と応じた。昨年９月の外相会談後、領土問題を議題としたことさえ一方的に否定した硬直的な態度と比べれば、柔軟姿勢を示したと言えよう。

The atmosphere surrounding the diplomacy between Tokyo and Moscow is not bad. Since autumn, the two countries have held repeated exchanges between lawmakers as well as talks between senior government officials.
　昨年秋以降は、議員交流や高官協議が続いており、日露外交の雰囲気自体は悪くない。

Russian President Vladimir Putin embraced Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s envisaged visit to Sochi. He told reporters that Japan is making efforts to maintain its relationship with Russia “despite U.S.-centered pressure.” Putin added that the two countries will be able to find middle ground on the territorial issue someday.
　プーチン大統領も、「米国を中心とする圧力にもかかわらず、日本は（対露）関係を維持しようとしている」と記者団に述べ、安倍首相のソチ訪問を歓迎した。領土問題についても、「いつか妥協できる」と語っている。

Strong willpower needed

Of course, it is too early to say that Moscow has shifted to a softer approach on territorial issues.
　無論、ロシアが領土問題で軟化していると見るのは早計だ。

In an interview with certain media ahead of his visit to Japan, Lavrov said the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration does not say that the territorial dispute will be discussed during negotiations on the envisioned peace treaty.
　ラブロフ氏は来日前、一部メディアに対し、１９５６年の日ソ共同宣言について「平和条約交渉で領土問題を検討するとは書かれていない」などと主張した。

The remarks contradict past agreements between Japan and Russia, such as the 2001 Irkutsk Statement, which states that settling the territorial jurisdiction of the four islands off Hokkaido is a precondition to concluding a peace treaty. Lavrov’s remarks cannot be accepted. Moscow should remember that Putin himself signed the Irkutsk Statement.
　４島の帰属問題の解決が条約締結の前提とした２００１年のイルクーツク声明など、過去の合意に反しており、容認できない発言だ。声明はプーチン氏自身が署名したことも踏まえるべきである。

Abe and Putin will have to have strong willpower and be decisive in resolving the territorial dispute.
　領土問題の解決には、両首脳の強い意志と決断が求められる。

The tenure of both leaders ends in 2018. We urge both governments to materialize the Russian president’s visit to Japan after Abe’s trip to Russia. It is important to seek a path toward reaching an agreement on the issue by exchanging mutual visits. We urge the government to steadily and strategically prepare the way for fostering the needed environment.
　２人の任期はいずれも１８年までだ。安倍首相の訪露後、プーチン氏の来日を実現し、相互往来を重ねる中で、合意の糸口を探ることが重要である。その環境整備を着実かつ戦略的に進めたい。

At the same time, it is important not to disrupt the unity of the Group of Seven developed nations.
　留意すべきは先進７か国（Ｇ７）の足並みを乱さないことだ。

U.S. President Barack Obama has confronted Putin over the Ukranian conflict. Obama expressed concern over Abe’s envisaged Sochi visit during a telephone discussion in February, asking him to postpone it. Abe countered: “A peace treaty issue with Russia is also important. We must continue dialogue with Russia.”
　ウクライナ情勢を巡ってロシアと対立するオバマ米大統領は、２月の首相との電話会談で、首相の訪露に懸念を伝え、延期を求めた。首相は「ロシアとの平和条約も大事だ。ロシアとの対話を続けねばならない」と反論した。

Earlier this month, Abe held a meeting with Ukranian President Petro Poroshenko, pledging to continue financial support to the country.
　首相は今月上旬、ウクライナのポロシェンコ大統領と会談し、経済支援の継続を約束した。

It is essential for the government to explain Japan’s standpoint of simultaneously working on the two issues − easing the Ukranian conflict and making progress in Japan-Russia relations − to the United States and European countries to obtain their understanding before Japan hosts the G-7 Ise-Shima Summit meeting in May.
　５月に主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）を控え、ウクライナ情勢の改善と日露関係の進展の両立を目指す日本の立場を説明し、米欧の理解を得る必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 17, 2016)