シリア内戦 化学兵器疑惑の徹底解明を

The Yomiuri Shimbun August 29, 2013
Uncover the full truth about alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria
シリア内戦　化学兵器疑惑の徹底解明を（8月28日付・読売社説）

The death toll in the Syrian civil war has already exceeded 100,000. With last week’s alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian government forces in mind, it is all the more imperative that the country’s bloodshed be stopped without further delay.
　シリア内戦では、犠牲者がすでに１０万人を超えた。まして化学兵器が使用されたとすれば、一刻の猶予もなく流血を止めなければならない。

President Bashar Assad’s regime forces fired rockets loaded with chemical gas on the suburbs of Damascus last Wednesday, killing and injuring a large number of civilians, according to the opposition Syrian National Coalition. Video footage of children injured in the attack has also been released on the Internet.
　シリアの反体制派組織「国民連合」によると、アサド政権軍は２１日、ダマスカス郊外に化学兵器を搭載したロケット弾を撃ち込み、多数の市民が犠牲になったという。負傷した子供たちの動画もインターネットで公開された。

The Assad government adamantly denies using chemical weapons, and insists the attack in question was perpetrated by rebel forces.
　政権側は、これを全面否定し、化学兵器攻撃を行ったのは反体制派だと主張している。

Using chemical weapons is a clear violation of international law. If it is established that regime forces used chemical weapons, the Assad government must be sternly brought to task.
　化学兵器の使用は、明白な国際規範違反である。事実が確認されれば、責任が厳しく問われなければならない。

A U.N. investigation team in Syria has started trying to confirm whether chemical weapons were used. However, the U.N. team is experiencing difficulties in probing the incident. One of the mission’s vehicles was fired on by unidentified snipers.
　シリアに入っていた国連調査団は、現地で化学兵器が使われたかどうかを確認する作業に入ったが、何者かに車両を銃撃される妨害に遭い、難航している。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, during a visit to Kuwait, had every reason to say, “I hope the U.N. investigating commission’s on-site probe will be conducted without disruption, and that all the facts will be established at an early date.”
　安倍首相が、外遊先のクウェートで「国連調査団の現地調査が妨害なく遂行され、事実関係が早期に明らかにされることを望む」と語ったのはもっともである。

Results of the investigation will likely be referred to a session of the U.N. Security Council. The council should implement necessary measures toward Syria after establishing the facts about the alleged use of chemical weapons, based on the U.N. team’s findings.
　調査結果は、安全保障理事会での討議に付される見通しだ。安保理は、調査結果を踏まえて、化学兵器疑惑を解明し、シリアへの対応措置を講じる必要がある。

Military response looming

The United States has started discussions with members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including Britain and France, regarding whether to launch a military strike on Syrian government targets. Washington has concluded that Assad regime forces used chemical weapons during last week’s attack. Its talks with NATO allies over possible military action came before the U.N. team produces its report.
　米国は、アサド政権側が化学兵器を使用したとみなし、国連の調査結果を待たず、英国やフランスなど北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）諸国との間で、政権側に対する軍事攻撃の検討に入った。

U.S. President Barack Obama had initially been cautious about becoming directly involved in the Syrian civil war. However, he is shifting to a hard-line approach.
　オバマ大統領はこれまで、シリア内戦への米国の直接関与について、慎重な態度を取ってきたが、強硬姿勢に転じつつある。

This is presumably because the alleged chemical weapons attack took place despite his repeated warnings to the Assad government that the use of deadly gases would cross “a red line.” Overlooking the latest incident would tarnish the national prestige of the United States. It could also encourage the use of chemical weapons in other parts of the world.
　化学兵器の使用は「越えてはならない一線」とアサド政権に強く警告してきたからでもあろう。化学兵器使用を黙認すると、米国の威信に傷が付く。世界の他の地域にも使用が広まりかねない。

However, it should be noted that the U.S. State Department has emphasized the importance of seeking “a political solution” to the Syrian problem. Needless to say, further diplomatic efforts must be made to resolve the armed conflict before the United States and NATO nations possibly decide to launch a military operation.
　ただ、米国務省は、「政治的解決」の重要性も強調している。軍事行動を決定する前に、一層の外交努力の積み重ねが求められるのは言うまでもない。

Another important task that must complement efforts to uncover the truth about the alleged chemical weapons use is to renew efforts to end the Syrian civil war, a challenge that will require shoring up international pressure on the Assad regime, which has relentlessly attacked the people of its own country.
　疑惑の解明と並行して、自国民への攻撃をやめようとしないアサド政権への国際的圧力をより強化し、内戦の収拾を改めて目指すことも重要だ。

This year’s Group of Eight summit meeting in June agreed that the Syrian government, rebel forces and nations with a stake in the problem would hold an international conference aimed at ending the civil war. Such a meeting would ideally be convened as early as possible.
　６月の主要８か国首脳会議は、シリアの和平に向け、政権と反体制派、関係各国による国際会議の開催で合意している。早期の会議実現が望まれる。

We will be closely watching how the United Nations and the international community handle the Syrian situation.
　シリアをめぐる国連と国際社会の動向を注目したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2013)
（2013年8月28日02時13分  読売新聞）