日露外相会談 戦略を持って交渉を継続せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 31, 2012)
Strategy needed to discuss northern territories with Russia
日露外相会談　戦略を持って交渉を継続せよ（7月30日付・読売社説）

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, agreed during their meeting held in Sochi, a resort in southern Russia, to continue talks on the disputed northern territories between their top leaders, foreign ministers and vice foreign ministers.
　ロシア南部の保養地ソチで行われた玄葉外相とラブロフ露外相との会談は、北方領土問題について、次官級、外相、首脳のレベルでそれぞれ交渉していく方針で一致した。

Japan and Russia have not yet developed an environment in which they can make progress on the territorial issue. Priority should be given to building a relationship of mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries through various discussions.
　日本とロシアが領土問題を前進させる環境は、まだ整っていない。様々な協議を通じて首脳間の信頼関係を構築することが先決だ。

At the meeting, Gemba again expressed his regret over Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's second visit to Kunashiri Island, one of the islands in the northern territories, earlier this month. It is also reasonable that Gemba told Lavrov that both countries need to pay due consideration to public sentiment in holding territorial talks.
　外相会談で、玄葉氏はメドベージェフ首相が今月初旬、北方領土の国後島を視察したことに改めて遺憾の意を示した。双方が国民感情に配慮しながら協議する必要があると述べたのも当然だろう。

Lavrov said Russia would continue discussions with Japan calmly and unemotionally, but added Russian leaders would continue to visit the northern territories.
　ラブロフ氏は「落ち着いた雰囲気で感情的にならずに」議論を続けるとしながらも、露要人の領土訪問は今後も続くと述べた。

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Overcome difference of views

However, there is a critical problem.
　だが、これは極めて問題だ。

We cannot allow Moscow to ignore Tokyo's intention and enhance its effective control over the northern territories based only on its own logic.
　ロシア側が、日本政府の意向を無視し、自国の論理だけで北方領土の実効支配を強めることは容認できない。

It is questionable how deeply Moscow understands the seriousness of Japan's protest. Russia might be taking unfair advantage of the current instability in the Japanese government.
　日本の抗議の意思がどこまでロシア側に伝わっているのか疑問である。日本の政権基盤が不安定で、ロシア側から足元を見られているのかもしれない。

"Japan would like to solve [the territorial issue with Russia] based on agreements and documents between the two countries, and on the principles of law and justice," Gemba said.
　玄葉氏は領土問題で「両国間の諸合意、諸文書、法と正義の原則に基づき解決したい」と強調した。

However, there are differences in the interpretation of basic ideas such as "the principles of law and justice" between Japan and Russia. Tokyo must find solutions to overcome such differences.
ただ、日露間では「法と正義の原則」など、基本的な考え方が異なっている。それをどう克服するか、打開策を探る必要がある。

Gemba also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin highly praised the current economic development situation between Japan and Russia.
"We must think about what we can and should do," he said, expressing hope for further development of economic cooperation between the two countries.
　玄葉氏はプーチン大統領とも会談した。プーチン氏は日露間の経済発展の現状を高く評価し、「何ができるか、何をすべきかを考えないといけない」と述べ、日露の協力拡大に期待を表明した。

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Japan-Russia ties important

In fact, economic relations between Japan and Russia have been deepening. It is notable that an increasing number of Japanese companies have engaged in oil and natural gas development projects in Sakhalin and in the auto industry in other parts of Russia. Japan's trade with Russia reached a record 30.7 billion dollars in 2011. 　実際、日露間の経済関係は深まっている。サハリンの石油・天然ガス開発プロジェクトや自動車分野などで、日本企業の進出が目立つ。２０１１年の貿易額は過去最高の約３０７億ドルとなった。

Enhanced relations would benefit both nations. The relationship may become more significant in dealing jointly with North Korea's nuclear development, China, which has been increasing its economic and military strength, and other international issues.
　日露関係の強化は、双方にメリットがある。経済だけではなく、北朝鮮の核問題や、経済・軍事力を高める中国に対処するためにも、重要性を増すだろう。

"We would like to continue [territorial] negotiations [with Japan] to seek a mutually acceptable solution," Putin was quoted as telling Gemba.
　プーチン氏は玄葉氏に「相互に受け入れ可能な解決策を探るべく、交渉を継続したい」との意向を示した。

Though his true intention is not clear, Putin seems to have expressed his willingness to settle the territorial dispute.
真意は不明だが、領土問題解決に意欲を見せている。

How should the government deal with Putin's administration, which places importance on the Asia-Pacific region, to find a clue to solve the territorial issue? Tokyo must rethink its Russia strategy.
　日本政府は、アジア太平洋地域を重視するプーチン政権に、どう向き合い、領土問題解決への糸口を見いだすか。対露戦略を練り直さなければならない。

The government should use every resource available in Japan to deal with Russia, including the dispatch of former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who has a good relationship with Putin, to Russia.
　プーチン氏と親交のある森元首相を特派するなど、“オールジャパン”で対応すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30, 2012)
（2012年7月30日01時48分 読売新聞）