専門用語：
fiscal sovereignty 財政主権
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 13, 2011)
Europe accord not enough to dispel financial concerns
ＥＵ首脳会議 金融不安の払拭にまだ力不足（12月11日付・読売社説）
European leaders barely managed to reach an agreement to prevent the Greece-triggered sovereign debt crisis from spreading to the rest of the world from Europe.
ギリシャに端を発した欧州発金融危機を食い止めようと、欧州各国の首脳が薄氷の合意にこぎつけた。
However, it does not seem powerful enough to dispel financial concerns.
だが、金融不安払拭には力不足だろう。
Leaders of European Union countries, including the 17 nations that use the euro, such as Germany and France, agreed Friday to conclude a new treaty that will impose stringent fiscal discipline on its members.
ユーロ導入の独仏など１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議は、厳しい財政規律を課する新条約を締結することで合意した。
The countries taking part in the new treaty will specify the principle of "fiscal balance" in their respective constitutions.
新条約の参加国は「財政均衡」の原則を憲法に明記する。
The principle is designed to automatically impose sanctions on countries whose fiscal deficit exceeds 3 percent of their gross domestic product in a single fiscal year.
単年度の財政赤字が対国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比３％を突破した国には、自動的に制裁を発動する内容だ。
The measure can be called a praiseworthy step forward, obliging individual countries to take steps to repair their finances based on lessons learned from the lax fiscal management of Greece and some other European countries.
危機をもたらしたギリシャなどの放漫財政を教訓に、財政健全化を各国に義務づける方策は、ひとまず前進と評価できよう。
===
One currency, many policies
The euro's fundamental weakness has lain in the fact that while eurozone countries have introduced the single currency, they have widely different fiscal policies.
通貨は一つだが、財政政策は各国でバラバラだったことが、ユーロの根本的な弱点だった。
If the European countries can sign the new treaty by March as scheduled under the leadership of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European unity will enter a new phase toward fiscal integration, which has been a long-standing issue.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領が主導して、予定通りに２０１２年３月までに各国が新条約に署名すれば、懸案の財政統合に向け、欧州統合は新局面に入る。
However, British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country is not a eurozone member, refused to join the new treaty, from the standpoint of protecting his country's fiscal sovereignty.
だが、新条約案に対し、非ユーロ圏の英国のキャメロン首相だけは、自国の財政主権を守る立場から参加を拒否した。
The divide between the French-German position and that of Britain can be said to have highlighted discord among EU member states.
独仏と英国の対立は、ＥＵ内の不協和音をさらけ出したと言える。
More serious was the fact that the latest summit meeting failed to come up with bold measures to contain the raging crisis.
さらに深刻なのは、今回の首脳会議が、燃えさかる当面の危機を封じ込めるために必要な大胆な策を打ち出せなかったことだ。
Leaders agreed at the meeting to launch the European Stability Mechanism in the middle of next year, one year ahead of the original schedule.
The bailout fund will provide fiscally distressed European countries with financial assistance and has been described as the European version of the International Monetary Fund.
会議は、財政危機国に資金支援する欧州版の国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）とされる「欧州安定メカニズム（ＥＳＭ）」について、予定を１年前倒しして来年半ばに発足させる方針で一致した。
The leaders also agreed on a bailout plan that would extend loans of up to 200 billion euros (about 21 trillion yen) to countries in fiscal crisis through the IMF.
ＩＭＦを通じて、財政危機国に最大２０００億ユーロ（約２１兆円）を貸し出す救済策も決めた。
===
IMF plan may not work
However, there are questions whether the IMF plan will be feasible given that the United States, the largest contributor to the international body, showed reluctance to make additional contributions.
だが、ＩＭＦ活用案には、ＩＭＦ最大出資国である米国が新たな資金拠出に難色を示すなど、実効性に疑問も残る。
The EU leaders also failed, because of Germany's objections, to agree on a common euro bond to be jointly issued by eurozone countries.
ユーロ圏が共同で発行する「ユーロ共通債」も、ドイツの反対で合意できなかった。
Above all, European countries have yet to secure enough funds to tackle the region's fiscal and financial crisis due to the slow progress of the plan to expand the European Financial Stability Facility, whose functions will eventually be taken over by the ESM.
何より、ＥＳＭの母体となる欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）の拡充が進んでおらず、危機対策の資金が十分確保できていない。
For European countries to regain the rest of the world's confidence, it will be essential for them to act quickly to strengthen the EFSF.
欧州がＥＦＳＦ強化に迅速に動くことが信頼回復に不可欠である。
It still remains uncertain how the global stock and exchange markets and credit rating companies will evaluate the conclusions agreed upon at the summit meeting.
世界の株式・為替市場や、格付け会社が、首脳会議の結論をどう評価するのかは不透明だ。
Market players have high expectations that the European Central Bank will support Italy and other distressed eurozone countries through massive purchases of those nations' government bonds. Yet the ECB remains cautious about taking such steps.
市場では、欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）がイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支えることへの期待があるが、ＥＣＢは慎重姿勢を崩していない。
Germany and France are taking the lead in Europe's precarious attempt to overcome the crisis. They bear a heavy responsibility in this regard.
危機克服への綱渡りを先導する独仏両国の責任は大きい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11, 2011)
（2011年12月11日01時10分 読売新聞）
2011/12/14
2011/12/13
参院問責決議 防衛相の資質には疑義がある
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 11, 2011)
Defense minister's competence questionable
参院問責決議 防衛相の資質には疑義がある（12月10日付・読売社説）
Questions have been raised about Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa's competence.
一川防衛相の資質には疑義が生じている。
It probably will be unavoidable at some stage to replace him.
いずれかの時点で交代させるのは、やむを得まい。
The House of Councillors passed censure motions against Ichikawa and Kenji Yamaoka, state minister for consumer affairs, at a plenary session Friday with majority support from the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties.
一川防衛相と山岡消費者相に対する問責決議が参院本会議で、自民、公明など野党の賛成多数で可決された。
Unlike a no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives, an upper house censure motion is not legally binding.
問責決議は、衆院の不信任決議と異なり、法的拘束力がない。
It is problematic that for their own interests opposition parties repeatedly present censure motions or refuse to attend Diet deliberations when censured ministers are present. They should refrain from adopting such strategies.
野党が党利党略から、問責決議を乱発したり、問責された閣僚らの出席する国会審議への出席拒否戦術を取ったりすることは問題があり、本来、慎むべきだ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi both made clear they want to keep the two ministers in their posts.
野田首相や民主党の輿石幹事長は防衛相らを続投させる方針を表明している。
They presumably concluded it would be undesirable to allow opposition parties to effectively hold absolute powers over cabinet ministers by passing censure motions against them in the upper house given the current divided Diet.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、参院の問責決議によって、野党が閣僚の生殺与奪権を事実上握るのはよくない、との判断もあるのだろう。
That is fully understandable.
十分に理解できる。
The Defense Ministry faces a number of important issues, such as selection of the next-generation fighter aircraft, an environment impact assessment report for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and the dispatch of a Ground Self-Defense Force unit to South Sudan on a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
防衛省は多くの重要案件を抱えている。次期戦闘機の選定、米軍普天間飛行場移設の環境影響評価書、南スーダンへの部隊派遣などだ。
===
Govt wants to avoid fallout
Therefore, the government and the DPJ apparently want to avoid any fallout that could occur by replacing the defense minister at this stage.
現時点での閣僚交代による悪影響を避けたい事情もあろう。
But we wonder whether Ichikawa is aware of his responsibility.
しかし、一川氏には、その自覚があるのか。
Upon appointment to the post in September, Ichikawa said he was an "amateur" on security issues.
就任時に「安全保障は素人」と述べ、
Last month, he skipped a state banquet at the Imperial Palace to attend a fund-raising party for a DPJ lawmaker, saying, "I thought this was more important."
宮中行事を欠席して参加した民主党議員のパーティーで「こちらの方が大事」と語った。
Ichikawa has supervisory responsibility over the highly controversial comments made by a former chief of the ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau in connection with the Futenma relocation issue.
普天間移設をめぐる前沖縄防衛局長の暴言の監督責任に加え、
The defense minister himself provoked strong resentment from Okinawa Prefecture residents for saying in the Diet that he did not know the details about the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in the prefecture.
１９９５年の沖縄女児暴行事件に関する「詳細には知らない」との発言は、沖縄の強い反発を招いた。
He lacks competence and is unsuitable to be in charge of national defense.
国防の責任者としての能力と適性を欠いており、
It will also be difficult for him to restore a relationship of trust with Okinawa Prefecture.
沖縄との信頼関係の回復も難しい。
Meanwhile, it came to light that Yamaoka had received political donations from and had cozy ties with companies involved in a pyramid scheme before assuming his current post.
山岡消費者相は、就任前のことながら、マルチ商法業界からの献金や親密な関係が判明している。
In this regard, it makes sense for the opposition bloc to argue that Yamaoka is unsuited for the consumer affairs post.
消費者相としてふさわしくないとの野党の主張には一理ある。
===
All-out confrontation seen
If the prime minister does not replace the two ministers, the ordinary Diet session next year will almost certainly see an all-out confrontation between ruling and opposition parties from its outset.
首相が両閣僚を交代させない場合、来年の通常国会は、冒頭から与野党の全面対決となるのが確実だ。
In that event, it will be difficult for the ruling and opposition parties to start negotiations on the consumption tax hike, which the prime minister has expressed his "unwavering resolve" to carry through.
首相が「不退転の決意」を示す消費税率引き上げに関する与野党協議も、開催が困難になる。
Without the cooperation of the opposition parties, it will be impossible to pass bills through the Diet.
野党の協力なしでは法案は成立しない。
The situation surrounding the Noda administration is growing increasingly tough.
野田政権を取り巻く環境は、厳しさを増している。
The extraordinary Diet session that ended Friday failed to produce tangible results.
９日閉会した臨時国会も、成果に乏しかった。
It managed to pass a supplementary budget and bills related to reconstruction of areas affected by the March 11 disaster.
補正予算と復興関連法は成立したが、
But as the Diet session was not extended, deliberations on such important bills as those to cut central government officials' salaries, reform postal services and revise the worker dispatch law have been put off.
会期延長さえなく、国家公務員給与削減、郵政改革、労働者派遣法改正などの重要法案や、
The Diet also postponed a decision to rectify the disparity in the value of votes in lower house elections.
衆院選の「１票の格差」是正が軒並み先送りされた。
Diet management by the government and the ruling parties is primarily to blame for the poor progress.
一義的には政府・与党の国会対策に問題があるにせよ、
However, the opposition parties also bear heavy responsibility in the divided Diet.
ねじれ国会では野党の責任も大きい。
It is time for the ruling and opposition parties to seriously discuss how to put an end to the political imbroglio.
政治の機能不全をどう脱するか、与野党は真剣に話し合うべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2011)
（2011年12月10日01時28分 読売新聞）
Defense minister's competence questionable
参院問責決議 防衛相の資質には疑義がある（12月10日付・読売社説）
Questions have been raised about Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa's competence.
一川防衛相の資質には疑義が生じている。
It probably will be unavoidable at some stage to replace him.
いずれかの時点で交代させるのは、やむを得まい。
The House of Councillors passed censure motions against Ichikawa and Kenji Yamaoka, state minister for consumer affairs, at a plenary session Friday with majority support from the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties.
一川防衛相と山岡消費者相に対する問責決議が参院本会議で、自民、公明など野党の賛成多数で可決された。
Unlike a no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives, an upper house censure motion is not legally binding.
問責決議は、衆院の不信任決議と異なり、法的拘束力がない。
It is problematic that for their own interests opposition parties repeatedly present censure motions or refuse to attend Diet deliberations when censured ministers are present. They should refrain from adopting such strategies.
野党が党利党略から、問責決議を乱発したり、問責された閣僚らの出席する国会審議への出席拒否戦術を取ったりすることは問題があり、本来、慎むべきだ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi both made clear they want to keep the two ministers in their posts.
野田首相や民主党の輿石幹事長は防衛相らを続投させる方針を表明している。
They presumably concluded it would be undesirable to allow opposition parties to effectively hold absolute powers over cabinet ministers by passing censure motions against them in the upper house given the current divided Diet.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、参院の問責決議によって、野党が閣僚の生殺与奪権を事実上握るのはよくない、との判断もあるのだろう。
That is fully understandable.
十分に理解できる。
The Defense Ministry faces a number of important issues, such as selection of the next-generation fighter aircraft, an environment impact assessment report for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and the dispatch of a Ground Self-Defense Force unit to South Sudan on a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
防衛省は多くの重要案件を抱えている。次期戦闘機の選定、米軍普天間飛行場移設の環境影響評価書、南スーダンへの部隊派遣などだ。
===
Govt wants to avoid fallout
Therefore, the government and the DPJ apparently want to avoid any fallout that could occur by replacing the defense minister at this stage.
現時点での閣僚交代による悪影響を避けたい事情もあろう。
But we wonder whether Ichikawa is aware of his responsibility.
しかし、一川氏には、その自覚があるのか。
Upon appointment to the post in September, Ichikawa said he was an "amateur" on security issues.
就任時に「安全保障は素人」と述べ、
Last month, he skipped a state banquet at the Imperial Palace to attend a fund-raising party for a DPJ lawmaker, saying, "I thought this was more important."
宮中行事を欠席して参加した民主党議員のパーティーで「こちらの方が大事」と語った。
Ichikawa has supervisory responsibility over the highly controversial comments made by a former chief of the ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau in connection with the Futenma relocation issue.
普天間移設をめぐる前沖縄防衛局長の暴言の監督責任に加え、
The defense minister himself provoked strong resentment from Okinawa Prefecture residents for saying in the Diet that he did not know the details about the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in the prefecture.
１９９５年の沖縄女児暴行事件に関する「詳細には知らない」との発言は、沖縄の強い反発を招いた。
He lacks competence and is unsuitable to be in charge of national defense.
国防の責任者としての能力と適性を欠いており、
It will also be difficult for him to restore a relationship of trust with Okinawa Prefecture.
沖縄との信頼関係の回復も難しい。
Meanwhile, it came to light that Yamaoka had received political donations from and had cozy ties with companies involved in a pyramid scheme before assuming his current post.
山岡消費者相は、就任前のことながら、マルチ商法業界からの献金や親密な関係が判明している。
In this regard, it makes sense for the opposition bloc to argue that Yamaoka is unsuited for the consumer affairs post.
消費者相としてふさわしくないとの野党の主張には一理ある。
===
All-out confrontation seen
If the prime minister does not replace the two ministers, the ordinary Diet session next year will almost certainly see an all-out confrontation between ruling and opposition parties from its outset.
首相が両閣僚を交代させない場合、来年の通常国会は、冒頭から与野党の全面対決となるのが確実だ。
In that event, it will be difficult for the ruling and opposition parties to start negotiations on the consumption tax hike, which the prime minister has expressed his "unwavering resolve" to carry through.
首相が「不退転の決意」を示す消費税率引き上げに関する与野党協議も、開催が困難になる。
Without the cooperation of the opposition parties, it will be impossible to pass bills through the Diet.
野党の協力なしでは法案は成立しない。
The situation surrounding the Noda administration is growing increasingly tough.
野田政権を取り巻く環境は、厳しさを増している。
The extraordinary Diet session that ended Friday failed to produce tangible results.
９日閉会した臨時国会も、成果に乏しかった。
It managed to pass a supplementary budget and bills related to reconstruction of areas affected by the March 11 disaster.
補正予算と復興関連法は成立したが、
But as the Diet session was not extended, deliberations on such important bills as those to cut central government officials' salaries, reform postal services and revise the worker dispatch law have been put off.
会期延長さえなく、国家公務員給与削減、郵政改革、労働者派遣法改正などの重要法案や、
The Diet also postponed a decision to rectify the disparity in the value of votes in lower house elections.
衆院選の「１票の格差」是正が軒並み先送りされた。
Diet management by the government and the ruling parties is primarily to blame for the poor progress.
一義的には政府・与党の国会対策に問題があるにせよ、
However, the opposition parties also bear heavy responsibility in the divided Diet.
ねじれ国会では野党の責任も大きい。
It is time for the ruling and opposition parties to seriously discuss how to put an end to the political imbroglio.
政治の機能不全をどう脱するか、与野党は真剣に話し合うべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2011)
（2011年12月10日01時28分 読売新聞）
2011/12/12
社説：原子力協定承認 拙速にすぎはしないか
(Mainichi Japan) December 10, 2011
Editorial: Japan needs more discussion before exporting atomic energy technology
社説：原子力協定承認 拙速にすぎはしないか
The Diet's approval of atomic energy agreements, which the government has signed with Jordan, Vietnam, Russia and South Korea, has opened the way for exports of nuclear power plants to these countries, but the decision came too hasty and has not been thought through.
The pacts are expected to come into force as early as January.
However, the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant has not been brought under control and the cause of the accident needs to be clarified. The Diet has endorsed the accords without in-depth discussions on how to ensure safety of nuclear power stations.
政府がヨルダン、ベトナム、ロシア、韓国と結んだ原子力協定が、国会で承認された。これにより、協定は来年１月にも発効し、原発輸出が可能になる。
しかし、東京電力福島第１原発の事故はまだ収束していない。原因の究明、検証もこれからだ。安全確保をめぐる十分な議論がないままでの国会承認は、あまりに拙速だといわざるを得ない。
Atomic energy agreements are aimed at preventing exported atomic-energy-related technology and materials from being diverted to military use, and are a prerequisite for exporting nuclear plants.
原子力協定は、原子力関連技術や資材を輸出する際、相手国での軍事転用を防ぐために締結するもので、原発輸出の前提になる。
Japan has already signed such accords with seven countries including the United States, France and China as well as the European Atomic Energy Community.
日本は米、仏、中国、欧州原子力共同体など７カ国１機関と締結済みだ。
Under the agreements, Japan is expected to construct nuclear power plants in Jordan and Vietnam and commission Russia to enrich uranium while exporting parts for nuclear reactors to South Korea.
今回承認を得たヨルダンとベトナムには原発輸出、ロシアにはウラン濃縮の委託、韓国には原子炉部品の輸出を想定している。
During Diet deliberation on the pacts, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said, "If we receive requests for cooperation despite Japan's current situation based on lessons learned from the crisis, we should do whatever we can to contribute to international efforts to enhance the safety of atomic energy."
国会審議で、野田佳彦首相は「日本の現状や反省も踏まえ、なお協力してほしいというなら、できることをすることは国際的な原子力安全の向上に資する」と説明した。
However, one cannot help but wonder how Japan can prove its nuclear technology can contribute to global safety.
しかし、「安全の向上」と胸を張る根拠はあるのか。
True, the Japanese nuclear power industry is quite advanced, but it alone cannot ensure the safety of operations at nuclear power stations.
確かに、国内原発産業の技術力は高い。しかし、それだけで原発を稼働し、運営する際の安全が確保できるわけではない。
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, is highly unlikely to participate in such an international deal even though it had been expected before the crisis to play a leading role in operations at these nuclear power stations abroad.
輸出先で運営を主導すると期待された東電の参画は望めない。
Moreover, even if Japan emphasizes that its nuclear technology is safe without clarifying the cause of the crisis, it cannot win confidence from the international community.
また、事故の原因がはっきりしないままでは、安全性を訴えても説得力はあるまい。
At the same time, the prime minister also emphasized that it is Japan's responsibility to share its experiences learned from the nuclear crisis with the international community.
一方で首相は、「事故の経験や教訓を国際社会と共有するのはわれわれの責務だ」とも強調した。
While this is correct, Japan should put greater emphasis on sharing with the world its knowledge on how to prevent nuclear accidents based on its thorough investigation into the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
もっともだが、共有すべきは、事故の徹底的な検証を前提にした事故防止のための知見であるはずだ。
The Diet had only 10 days to deliberate on the atomic energy pacts.
今回の国会審議は、議案の審議入りから承認までわずか１０日しかなかった。
It failed to carry out thorough discussions on safety measures even though Jordan is an earthquake-prone country and it is reportedly difficult to secure the massive amount of water needed to cool down reactors that are expected to be built in inland areas of the country.
例えば、ヨルダンは地震多発国であり、原発建設予定地が内陸部にあるため大量の冷却水を確保しにくいとされるが、安全対策の議論は生煮えだった。
It has been pointed out by some critics that the government was desperate to ensure the pacts clear the Diet within this year so that Japanese companies will not be put in a disadvantageous position amid international competition for contracts on the construction of nuclear power stations.
政府は、締結相手国での受注競争で日本企業が不利にならないよう、年内承認を急いだとの指摘もある。
However, some members of the ruling coalition voted against the pacts.
しかし、採決では与党内からも反対者が出た。
Deliberations that fail to convince even some ruling coalition legislators can never win confidence from the Japanese public and the international community.
「身内」も納得しない審議では、国民や国際社会の理解も得られまい。
The government is currently negotiating atomic energy agreements with India, South Africa and Turkey.
政府は現在、インド、南アフリカ、トルコとも原子力協定の締結交渉を進めている。
In particular, Japan should exercise prudence in its negotiations with India, which is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty even though it possesses nuclear arms.
核保有国でありながら核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）に加盟していないインドとの交渉は、とりわけ慎重であるべきだ。
To prevent Japan from exporting danger and anxiety to the world while decreasing its reliance on nuclear energy, the executive and legislative branches of the government are urged to hold more in-depth discussions on nuclear energy safety based on its verification of the cause of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
国内で「脱原発依存」を進める一方で、海外に危険や不安を輸出することがあってはならない。
そのために、政府・国会には事故の検証を踏まえ、安全をめぐる議論を深めるよう改めて求める。
毎日新聞 2011年12月10日 東京朝刊
Editorial: Japan needs more discussion before exporting atomic energy technology
社説：原子力協定承認 拙速にすぎはしないか
The Diet's approval of atomic energy agreements, which the government has signed with Jordan, Vietnam, Russia and South Korea, has opened the way for exports of nuclear power plants to these countries, but the decision came too hasty and has not been thought through.
The pacts are expected to come into force as early as January.
However, the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant has not been brought under control and the cause of the accident needs to be clarified. The Diet has endorsed the accords without in-depth discussions on how to ensure safety of nuclear power stations.
政府がヨルダン、ベトナム、ロシア、韓国と結んだ原子力協定が、国会で承認された。これにより、協定は来年１月にも発効し、原発輸出が可能になる。
しかし、東京電力福島第１原発の事故はまだ収束していない。原因の究明、検証もこれからだ。安全確保をめぐる十分な議論がないままでの国会承認は、あまりに拙速だといわざるを得ない。
Atomic energy agreements are aimed at preventing exported atomic-energy-related technology and materials from being diverted to military use, and are a prerequisite for exporting nuclear plants.
原子力協定は、原子力関連技術や資材を輸出する際、相手国での軍事転用を防ぐために締結するもので、原発輸出の前提になる。
Japan has already signed such accords with seven countries including the United States, France and China as well as the European Atomic Energy Community.
日本は米、仏、中国、欧州原子力共同体など７カ国１機関と締結済みだ。
Under the agreements, Japan is expected to construct nuclear power plants in Jordan and Vietnam and commission Russia to enrich uranium while exporting parts for nuclear reactors to South Korea.
今回承認を得たヨルダンとベトナムには原発輸出、ロシアにはウラン濃縮の委託、韓国には原子炉部品の輸出を想定している。
During Diet deliberation on the pacts, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said, "If we receive requests for cooperation despite Japan's current situation based on lessons learned from the crisis, we should do whatever we can to contribute to international efforts to enhance the safety of atomic energy."
国会審議で、野田佳彦首相は「日本の現状や反省も踏まえ、なお協力してほしいというなら、できることをすることは国際的な原子力安全の向上に資する」と説明した。
However, one cannot help but wonder how Japan can prove its nuclear technology can contribute to global safety.
しかし、「安全の向上」と胸を張る根拠はあるのか。
True, the Japanese nuclear power industry is quite advanced, but it alone cannot ensure the safety of operations at nuclear power stations.
確かに、国内原発産業の技術力は高い。しかし、それだけで原発を稼働し、運営する際の安全が確保できるわけではない。
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, is highly unlikely to participate in such an international deal even though it had been expected before the crisis to play a leading role in operations at these nuclear power stations abroad.
輸出先で運営を主導すると期待された東電の参画は望めない。
Moreover, even if Japan emphasizes that its nuclear technology is safe without clarifying the cause of the crisis, it cannot win confidence from the international community.
また、事故の原因がはっきりしないままでは、安全性を訴えても説得力はあるまい。
At the same time, the prime minister also emphasized that it is Japan's responsibility to share its experiences learned from the nuclear crisis with the international community.
一方で首相は、「事故の経験や教訓を国際社会と共有するのはわれわれの責務だ」とも強調した。
While this is correct, Japan should put greater emphasis on sharing with the world its knowledge on how to prevent nuclear accidents based on its thorough investigation into the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
もっともだが、共有すべきは、事故の徹底的な検証を前提にした事故防止のための知見であるはずだ。
The Diet had only 10 days to deliberate on the atomic energy pacts.
今回の国会審議は、議案の審議入りから承認までわずか１０日しかなかった。
It failed to carry out thorough discussions on safety measures even though Jordan is an earthquake-prone country and it is reportedly difficult to secure the massive amount of water needed to cool down reactors that are expected to be built in inland areas of the country.
例えば、ヨルダンは地震多発国であり、原発建設予定地が内陸部にあるため大量の冷却水を確保しにくいとされるが、安全対策の議論は生煮えだった。
It has been pointed out by some critics that the government was desperate to ensure the pacts clear the Diet within this year so that Japanese companies will not be put in a disadvantageous position amid international competition for contracts on the construction of nuclear power stations.
政府は、締結相手国での受注競争で日本企業が不利にならないよう、年内承認を急いだとの指摘もある。
However, some members of the ruling coalition voted against the pacts.
しかし、採決では与党内からも反対者が出た。
Deliberations that fail to convince even some ruling coalition legislators can never win confidence from the Japanese public and the international community.
「身内」も納得しない審議では、国民や国際社会の理解も得られまい。
The government is currently negotiating atomic energy agreements with India, South Africa and Turkey.
政府は現在、インド、南アフリカ、トルコとも原子力協定の締結交渉を進めている。
In particular, Japan should exercise prudence in its negotiations with India, which is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty even though it possesses nuclear arms.
核保有国でありながら核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）に加盟していないインドとの交渉は、とりわけ慎重であるべきだ。
To prevent Japan from exporting danger and anxiety to the world while decreasing its reliance on nuclear energy, the executive and legislative branches of the government are urged to hold more in-depth discussions on nuclear energy safety based on its verification of the cause of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
国内で「脱原発依存」を進める一方で、海外に危険や不安を輸出することがあってはならない。
そのために、政府・国会には事故の検証を踏まえ、安全をめぐる議論を深めるよう改めて求める。
毎日新聞 2011年12月10日 東京朝刊
2011/12/11
防災教育 自ら危機回避できる力育もう
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 10, 2011)
Nurture children's ability to avoid danger on their own
防災教育 自ら危機回避できる力育もう（12月9日付・読売社説）
Japan is one of the nations most frequently hit by natural disasters.
日本は世界有数の自然災害多発国である。
It is imperative that children are taught in their daily lives how to respond effectively when an emergency strikes.
「いざ」という時の対応力を日頃から養う防災教育の充実が欠かせない。
The details of what children should be taught, however, have so far been left up to individual schools.
ところが、どのような教育を行うかについては、これまで学校現場に任せきりだった。
The Great East Japan Earthquake claimed the lives of 550 children, ranging from kindergartners to high school students.
Reflecting on this, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry plans to work out a set of nationwide guidelines spelling out how to make children more capable of avoiding danger by themselves.
東日本大震災では幼稚園から高校まで５５０人の児童・生徒が犠牲になった。
We urge the ministry to responsibly provide specifics in intelligible, concrete terms.
その反省から、文部科学省は、子供が自らの判断で危機を回避する能力を育むことを全国共通の指針にする方針だ。
文科省は責任を持って具体的な教育内容を詰める必要がある。
The example set by children in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, has been a beacon.
注目されているのが、岩手県釜石市の事例だ。
===
'Miracle of Kamaishi'
Although Kamaishi was struck by the catastrophic tsunami on March 11, the great majority of the 3,000 primary and middle school students in the city fled to safety and were physically unhurt.
津波に襲われながら、小中学生３０００人の大半が避難して無事だった。
Many children decided on their own that it would be risky to take shelter at designated evacuation sites, and instead made a beeline for higher ground to escape the oncoming tsunami.
指定された避難場所では危ないと判断し、高台に上って難を逃れた。
For the last seven years, schools in Kamaishi have taught their students the basics of evacuation by inviting experts in disaster management as advisers to speak to the children.
釜石市では７年前から、災害対応の専門家をアドバイザーに迎え、
The golden rules drilled into the children were "Don't trust assumptions about disasters" and "Put yourself first and flee."
「想定を信じない」「自分が率先して逃げる」といった避難の原則を徹底して教えてきた。
The schools also incorporated content about disasters in each subject.
One question in a mathematics class on velocity asked students to think about the speed at which a tsunami would reach the coast.
数学の授業では、速度の計算で津波の到達する速さを考えさせるなど、各教科の指導に災害に関する内容を盛り込んでいる。
The accumulation of these efforts resulted in the students swiftly evacuating in what has widely been referred to as "the miracle of Kamaishi."
こうした積み重ねが、「釜石の奇跡」と呼ばれる迅速な避難行動につながったと言える。
Other ingenious methods have been employed elsewhere.
釜石市以外でも、工夫を凝らした取り組みが見られる。
In some places, children heard from elderly local people who experienced massive earthquakes in the past, while others drew antidisaster maps highlighting vulnerable areas by examining geographical features of their neighborhood.
子供たちが、過去に大地震を体験した地元の古老から聞き取りをする。地域の地形を調べて、危険箇所をまとめた防災マップを作る。
Some school athletic meets included bucket relay races and contests to build makeshift stretchers.
運動会で担架作り競争やバケツリレー競争を行う、などだ。
These antidisaster education activities, however, have been held only in some regions, rather than nationwide.
ただ、これらの実践は一部にとどまり、全国に普及していない。
The education ministry and several local governments have introduced examples of antidisaster education on their websites.
文科省や一部の自治体はホームページで防災教育の事例を紹介しているが、
They should provide more in-depth information online so their expertise can be shared with schools in every corner of the nation.
内容を充実させ、すべての学校でノウハウを共有できるようにすることが急務である。
===
Don't leave kids home alone
Boosting teacher awareness about antidisaster education is also a key task.
教員の意識向上も課題だ。
The ministry is scheduled to hold antidisaster training courses this month and January for 220 supervisors from prefectural boards of education.
文科省は今月と来月、各都道府県で指導役となる教育委員会の指導主事ら２２０人を集め、全国規模の防災研修を実施する。
These supervisors will pass this information on to teachers.
It is of basic importance that every teacher acquire the skills to teach students how to stay safe in a disaster.
すべての教員が指導法を身につけることが基本だ。
It will also become necessary to include antidisaster lessons in university courses for prospective teachers and courses for newly appointed educators.
大学の養成課程や採用後の研修に関連講座を組み入れることも必要になろう。
After the March 11 disaster, many commuters were unable to go home because of disruptions to transportation networks in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
一方、今回の震災では、交通機関が不通になった首都圏で保護者が帰宅困難者となり、
Many children spent hours at home alone after returning from school, waiting for their parents to return.
学校から戻った子供が誰もいない自宅で長時間過ごすケースが相次いだ。
The Tokyo metropolitan government has settled on a policy of, in principle, keeping children at school after a massive disaster until they can be given to their parents.
東京都は震災後、保護者に引き渡すまで原則的に子供を学校に留め置く方針を打ち出した。
We hope parents and schools will together work out the rules governing when children should be picked up following a catastrophe.
災害時に子供を引き渡すルールを、学校と保護者で決めておきたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9, 2011)
（2011年12月9日01時15分 読売新聞）
Nurture children's ability to avoid danger on their own
防災教育 自ら危機回避できる力育もう（12月9日付・読売社説）
Japan is one of the nations most frequently hit by natural disasters.
日本は世界有数の自然災害多発国である。
It is imperative that children are taught in their daily lives how to respond effectively when an emergency strikes.
「いざ」という時の対応力を日頃から養う防災教育の充実が欠かせない。
The details of what children should be taught, however, have so far been left up to individual schools.
ところが、どのような教育を行うかについては、これまで学校現場に任せきりだった。
The Great East Japan Earthquake claimed the lives of 550 children, ranging from kindergartners to high school students.
Reflecting on this, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry plans to work out a set of nationwide guidelines spelling out how to make children more capable of avoiding danger by themselves.
東日本大震災では幼稚園から高校まで５５０人の児童・生徒が犠牲になった。
We urge the ministry to responsibly provide specifics in intelligible, concrete terms.
その反省から、文部科学省は、子供が自らの判断で危機を回避する能力を育むことを全国共通の指針にする方針だ。
文科省は責任を持って具体的な教育内容を詰める必要がある。
The example set by children in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, has been a beacon.
注目されているのが、岩手県釜石市の事例だ。
===
'Miracle of Kamaishi'
Although Kamaishi was struck by the catastrophic tsunami on March 11, the great majority of the 3,000 primary and middle school students in the city fled to safety and were physically unhurt.
津波に襲われながら、小中学生３０００人の大半が避難して無事だった。
Many children decided on their own that it would be risky to take shelter at designated evacuation sites, and instead made a beeline for higher ground to escape the oncoming tsunami.
指定された避難場所では危ないと判断し、高台に上って難を逃れた。
For the last seven years, schools in Kamaishi have taught their students the basics of evacuation by inviting experts in disaster management as advisers to speak to the children.
釜石市では７年前から、災害対応の専門家をアドバイザーに迎え、
The golden rules drilled into the children were "Don't trust assumptions about disasters" and "Put yourself first and flee."
「想定を信じない」「自分が率先して逃げる」といった避難の原則を徹底して教えてきた。
The schools also incorporated content about disasters in each subject.
One question in a mathematics class on velocity asked students to think about the speed at which a tsunami would reach the coast.
数学の授業では、速度の計算で津波の到達する速さを考えさせるなど、各教科の指導に災害に関する内容を盛り込んでいる。
The accumulation of these efforts resulted in the students swiftly evacuating in what has widely been referred to as "the miracle of Kamaishi."
こうした積み重ねが、「釜石の奇跡」と呼ばれる迅速な避難行動につながったと言える。
Other ingenious methods have been employed elsewhere.
釜石市以外でも、工夫を凝らした取り組みが見られる。
In some places, children heard from elderly local people who experienced massive earthquakes in the past, while others drew antidisaster maps highlighting vulnerable areas by examining geographical features of their neighborhood.
子供たちが、過去に大地震を体験した地元の古老から聞き取りをする。地域の地形を調べて、危険箇所をまとめた防災マップを作る。
Some school athletic meets included bucket relay races and contests to build makeshift stretchers.
運動会で担架作り競争やバケツリレー競争を行う、などだ。
These antidisaster education activities, however, have been held only in some regions, rather than nationwide.
ただ、これらの実践は一部にとどまり、全国に普及していない。
The education ministry and several local governments have introduced examples of antidisaster education on their websites.
文科省や一部の自治体はホームページで防災教育の事例を紹介しているが、
They should provide more in-depth information online so their expertise can be shared with schools in every corner of the nation.
内容を充実させ、すべての学校でノウハウを共有できるようにすることが急務である。
===
Don't leave kids home alone
Boosting teacher awareness about antidisaster education is also a key task.
教員の意識向上も課題だ。
The ministry is scheduled to hold antidisaster training courses this month and January for 220 supervisors from prefectural boards of education.
文科省は今月と来月、各都道府県で指導役となる教育委員会の指導主事ら２２０人を集め、全国規模の防災研修を実施する。
These supervisors will pass this information on to teachers.
It is of basic importance that every teacher acquire the skills to teach students how to stay safe in a disaster.
すべての教員が指導法を身につけることが基本だ。
It will also become necessary to include antidisaster lessons in university courses for prospective teachers and courses for newly appointed educators.
大学の養成課程や採用後の研修に関連講座を組み入れることも必要になろう。
After the March 11 disaster, many commuters were unable to go home because of disruptions to transportation networks in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
一方、今回の震災では、交通機関が不通になった首都圏で保護者が帰宅困難者となり、
Many children spent hours at home alone after returning from school, waiting for their parents to return.
学校から戻った子供が誰もいない自宅で長時間過ごすケースが相次いだ。
The Tokyo metropolitan government has settled on a policy of, in principle, keeping children at school after a massive disaster until they can be given to their parents.
東京都は震災後、保護者に引き渡すまで原則的に子供を学校に留め置く方針を打ち出した。
We hope parents and schools will together work out the rules governing when children should be picked up following a catastrophe.
災害時に子供を引き渡すルールを、学校と保護者で決めておきたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9, 2011)
（2011年12月9日01時15分 読売新聞）
2011/12/10
欧州危機拡大 市場が催促する首脳の抜本策
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 9, 2011)
EU heads must unite to resolve debt crisis
欧州危機拡大 市場が催促する首脳の抜本策（12月8日付・読売社説）
A tense two-day meeting that will determine whether the sovereign debt crisis in Europe can be resolved is finally starting.
欧州危機を収束できるかどうか、いよいよ緊迫の２日間を迎える。
The meeting must devise a sweeping solution that will enable eurozone countries to regain market confidence.
市場の信認を取り戻す抜本策が求められよう。
A summit meeting of European Union members, including 17 eurozone states such as Germany and France, will be held Thursday and Friday in Belgium.
独仏などユーロ圏１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議が、８、９日にベルギーで開かれる。
The European Central Bank is also to discuss financial policy on Thursday.
欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）も８日、金融政策を話し合う。
The debt crisis has spilled over from Greece with its huge fiscal deficit to Italy, and is now spreading to Spain and France.
欧州危機は、巨額の財政赤字を抱えたギリシャからイタリアに飛び火し、スペイン、フランスに拡大しつつある。
This is a serious situation.
深刻な事態だ。
Before the summit meeting, Standard & Poor's announced it was considering a possible downgrade on the credit ratings of long-term sovereign bonds issued by 15 eurozone countries, including six states such as Germany and France whose bonds are rated AAA.
会議を前に、米格付け会社のスタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）は、独仏など「トリプルＡ」の６か国を含むユーロ圏１５か国の長期国債格付けを引き下げ方向で見直すと発表した。
In addition, the U.S. rating agency warned it might cut the credit rating of bonds issued by the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which are guaranteed with the creditworthiness of the six states' bonds.
さらに、６か国の保証を裏付けに欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）が発行する債券を格下げする方向も明らかにした。
The agency's announcement appears to illustrate its distrust of the reactions by the political sector, which have always been one step behind.
後手に回る政治の対応に不信を示した形だ。
===
Fiscal rehabilitation needed
Leaders of EU countries should take this seriously as a warning from the market.
欧州首脳らは、市場の警告を真摯(しんし)に受け止める必要がある。
If the summit meeting comes out with half-baked measures to deal with the debt crisis, S&P will go through with the downgrades.
危機収束策が不十分なら、Ｓ＆Ｐは格下げに踏み切る。
This would aggravate the turmoil in financial markets and undermine the functions of the EFSF, which is supporting countries already in trouble from the debt crisis.
金融市場が一段と混乱し、危機国を支援するＥＦＳＦの機能も揺らぐ。
We must watch out for the negative chain reactions that could cause.
負の連鎖に要警戒だ。
A focus of the summit meeting is whether the participating countries can agree on a fiscal rehabilitation plan to stabilize the euro.
首脳会議の焦点は、ユーロを安定させる財政健全化策である。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have agreed on a plan to impose automatic sanctions against countries that exceed a fiscal deficit limit of 3 percent of their gross domestic product.
They will jointly propose revising the EU treaty at the summit meeting to bring this about.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領は、財政赤字を対ＧＤＰ（国内総生産）比３％以内に抑えるルールを破った国に自動的に制裁を科す方針で一致し、ＥＵ条約改正を会議に共同提案する。
It is a matter of course to stop free spending policies and enhance fiscal discipline.
放漫財政を食い止め、財政規律を強化するのは当然だ。
We expect the eurozone countries to hammer out a clear policy based on the proposal by Germany and France toward the introduction of mutual surveillance of fiscal policies, which have never been coordinated among these countries.
独仏提案に沿い、欧州各国でバラバラだった財政の相互監視へ、明確な方針を打ち出してもらいたい。
===
Stop spread of crisis
What is needed most are emergency measures to prevent the crisis from spreading any further.
何より必要なのは、危機拡大を防ぐ緊急措置だ。
The eurozone countries decided at the end of October to expand the EFSF, reduce Greece's debts and strengthen the core capital of banks, but none of them has been carried out yet.
ユーロ圏が１０月末に決めたＥＦＳＦ拡大、ギリシャ債務削減、銀行資本増強はいまだに実施されていない。
If these measures are not implemented immediately, they may come too late.
遅きに失する恐れがあろう。
In relation to these measures, the role of the ECB will become more important.
これらの対策と連動し、ＥＣＢの役割がますます重要になる。
In early November, immediately after its new President Mario Draghi, an Italian, assumed office, the bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 1.25 percent for the first time in 2-1/2 years.
ＥＣＢは、イタリア出身のドラギ総裁が就任した直後の１１月初め、２年半ぶりに政策金利を引き下げて年１・２５％とした。
However, there are fears the European economy might slow down and register negative growth if the countries introduce austerity measures.
各国が緊縮財政に取り組むと、欧州景気は減速し、マイナス成長に陥ることが懸念される。
The ECB would win praise if it considers an additional interest rate cut to support the economy.
景気下支えへ、ＥＣＢが追加利下げを検討する姿勢は歓迎されよう。
If the ECB buys up a large number of bonds from Italy and other countries, it will also be an effective measure to prevent the yields of government bonds from soaring and to soothe credit uneasiness in the market.
国債利回りの急騰を抑え、信用不安を沈静化するには、ＥＣＢがイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支える措置も有効だ。
The rest of the world is watching whether European countries can stand together and act quickly to deal with this crisis.
欧州が結束し、急いで行動することを世界は注視している。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2011)
（2011年12月8日01時30分 読売新聞）
EU heads must unite to resolve debt crisis
欧州危機拡大 市場が催促する首脳の抜本策（12月8日付・読売社説）
A tense two-day meeting that will determine whether the sovereign debt crisis in Europe can be resolved is finally starting.
欧州危機を収束できるかどうか、いよいよ緊迫の２日間を迎える。
The meeting must devise a sweeping solution that will enable eurozone countries to regain market confidence.
市場の信認を取り戻す抜本策が求められよう。
A summit meeting of European Union members, including 17 eurozone states such as Germany and France, will be held Thursday and Friday in Belgium.
独仏などユーロ圏１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議が、８、９日にベルギーで開かれる。
The European Central Bank is also to discuss financial policy on Thursday.
欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）も８日、金融政策を話し合う。
The debt crisis has spilled over from Greece with its huge fiscal deficit to Italy, and is now spreading to Spain and France.
欧州危機は、巨額の財政赤字を抱えたギリシャからイタリアに飛び火し、スペイン、フランスに拡大しつつある。
This is a serious situation.
深刻な事態だ。
Before the summit meeting, Standard & Poor's announced it was considering a possible downgrade on the credit ratings of long-term sovereign bonds issued by 15 eurozone countries, including six states such as Germany and France whose bonds are rated AAA.
会議を前に、米格付け会社のスタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）は、独仏など「トリプルＡ」の６か国を含むユーロ圏１５か国の長期国債格付けを引き下げ方向で見直すと発表した。
In addition, the U.S. rating agency warned it might cut the credit rating of bonds issued by the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which are guaranteed with the creditworthiness of the six states' bonds.
さらに、６か国の保証を裏付けに欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）が発行する債券を格下げする方向も明らかにした。
The agency's announcement appears to illustrate its distrust of the reactions by the political sector, which have always been one step behind.
後手に回る政治の対応に不信を示した形だ。
===
Fiscal rehabilitation needed
Leaders of EU countries should take this seriously as a warning from the market.
欧州首脳らは、市場の警告を真摯(しんし)に受け止める必要がある。
If the summit meeting comes out with half-baked measures to deal with the debt crisis, S&P will go through with the downgrades.
危機収束策が不十分なら、Ｓ＆Ｐは格下げに踏み切る。
This would aggravate the turmoil in financial markets and undermine the functions of the EFSF, which is supporting countries already in trouble from the debt crisis.
金融市場が一段と混乱し、危機国を支援するＥＦＳＦの機能も揺らぐ。
We must watch out for the negative chain reactions that could cause.
負の連鎖に要警戒だ。
A focus of the summit meeting is whether the participating countries can agree on a fiscal rehabilitation plan to stabilize the euro.
首脳会議の焦点は、ユーロを安定させる財政健全化策である。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have agreed on a plan to impose automatic sanctions against countries that exceed a fiscal deficit limit of 3 percent of their gross domestic product.
They will jointly propose revising the EU treaty at the summit meeting to bring this about.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領は、財政赤字を対ＧＤＰ（国内総生産）比３％以内に抑えるルールを破った国に自動的に制裁を科す方針で一致し、ＥＵ条約改正を会議に共同提案する。
It is a matter of course to stop free spending policies and enhance fiscal discipline.
放漫財政を食い止め、財政規律を強化するのは当然だ。
We expect the eurozone countries to hammer out a clear policy based on the proposal by Germany and France toward the introduction of mutual surveillance of fiscal policies, which have never been coordinated among these countries.
独仏提案に沿い、欧州各国でバラバラだった財政の相互監視へ、明確な方針を打ち出してもらいたい。
===
Stop spread of crisis
What is needed most are emergency measures to prevent the crisis from spreading any further.
何より必要なのは、危機拡大を防ぐ緊急措置だ。
The eurozone countries decided at the end of October to expand the EFSF, reduce Greece's debts and strengthen the core capital of banks, but none of them has been carried out yet.
ユーロ圏が１０月末に決めたＥＦＳＦ拡大、ギリシャ債務削減、銀行資本増強はいまだに実施されていない。
If these measures are not implemented immediately, they may come too late.
遅きに失する恐れがあろう。
In relation to these measures, the role of the ECB will become more important.
これらの対策と連動し、ＥＣＢの役割がますます重要になる。
In early November, immediately after its new President Mario Draghi, an Italian, assumed office, the bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 1.25 percent for the first time in 2-1/2 years.
ＥＣＢは、イタリア出身のドラギ総裁が就任した直後の１１月初め、２年半ぶりに政策金利を引き下げて年１・２５％とした。
However, there are fears the European economy might slow down and register negative growth if the countries introduce austerity measures.
各国が緊縮財政に取り組むと、欧州景気は減速し、マイナス成長に陥ることが懸念される。
The ECB would win praise if it considers an additional interest rate cut to support the economy.
景気下支えへ、ＥＣＢが追加利下げを検討する姿勢は歓迎されよう。
If the ECB buys up a large number of bonds from Italy and other countries, it will also be an effective measure to prevent the yields of government bonds from soaring and to soothe credit uneasiness in the market.
国債利回りの急騰を抑え、信用不安を沈静化するには、ＥＣＢがイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支える措置も有効だ。
The rest of the world is watching whether European countries can stand together and act quickly to deal with this crisis.
欧州が結束し、急いで行動することを世界は注視している。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2011)
（2011年12月8日01時30分 読売新聞）
2011/12/09
真珠湾７０年―危機の時代へ三つの教訓
3 continuing lessons from the Pearl Harbor attack
真珠湾７０年―危機の時代へ三つの教訓
↓
1) The first lesson is that we must not seek any simple, quick solution to a problem in times of crisis.
1) ひとつは、危機の時代には、単純な解決を性急に求めないことだ。
2) The second lesson to learn from history is that we must respect the diversity of thought, especially in times of crisis.
2) ふたつめは、危機の時代にこそ、意見の多様性を尊重することだ。
3) The third lesson is that we must look at ourselves objectively when we turn our eyes to the rest of the world.
3) 三つめは、世界に目を向けるときは、あわせて他者の視座でわが身を見ることだ。
久々に朝日新聞の力作だと思います。
（スラチャイ）
--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 7
EDITORIAL: 3 continuing lessons from the Pearl Harbor attack
真珠湾７０年―危機の時代へ三つの教訓
December 07, 2011 Dec. 8 (Japan time) marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Pacific War.
太平洋戦争の開戦から、あすで７０年になる。
News of a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, by a task force of the Imperial Japanese Navy threw the Japanese people into wild elation.
日本の機動部隊が、ハワイ・真珠湾の米太平洋艦隊を急襲した知らせに、国民は熱狂した。
Novelist Sei Ito (1905-1969) noted to the effect: "Yes! This is the way to go." Actor Musei Tokugawa (1894-1971) recalled, "I felt my whole body tingle with excitement."
「ああこれでいい。これで大丈夫だ」（小説家の伊藤整）、「身体がキューッとなる感じ」（俳優の徳川夢声）。
But that day was the beginning of Japan's downfall, which ended with its unconditional surrender three years and eight months later.
だが、それは３年８カ月後の全面敗北に至る転落の始まりだった。
The Pearl Harbor attack has been discussed extensively.
真珠湾はさまざまに総括されてきた。
In Japan, the recurring question has been why the nation was so foolhardy as to go to war with the United States, whose strength was vastly superior.
日本では、圧倒的に強い米国に無謀な戦争を挑んだ理由が問われた。
Was this to blame on the out-of-control military? Or did political confusion of the time play a factor? Or did the media fan jingoistic feelings that were already surging around the nation?
軍部の暴走か、政治の混迷に原因があるのか。メディアが火に油を注いだ国民の熱狂のためか。
In his address before Congress, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) called the day "a date which will live in infamy."
米国にとっては「不名誉の日」（ルーズベルト大統領の戦争教書演説）である。
For the Americans, Pearl Harbor became an object lesson in how a country can fall flat on its face for underestimating its opponent.
相手をあなどった結果の失態として語り継がれる。
During the Cold War, the lesson was applied to America's relationship with the Soviet Union. The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were likened to Pearl Harbor.
冷戦時代にはソ連に備える教訓となり、２００１年の同時多発テロは新たな「真珠湾」とされた。
International order's breaking point
■国際秩序の破断点
History is always reviewed in the light of the present.
歴史はたえず現在に照らして問い直される。
How should we interpret Pearl Harbor today amid the escalation of the European debt crisis and concerns about the future of democracy?
ならば、欧州発の経済危機がとどまるところを知らず、民主主義の未来が危ぶまれつつある今日、真珠湾はどんな意味を持つのか。
Let us put the start of the Pacific War in a broader historical context, rather than look at it as an error in judgment by the Japanese government or an outcome of Tokyo's falling-out with Washington.
ひとつの視点として、開戦を日本政府の判断の過ちや、日米対立の産物ととらえるだけでなく、もう少し広く歴史を見渡して位置づけてみる。
Seen in that light, one could say that Pearl Harbor represented the point where the international order, which was already in bad shape since the Great Depression of 1929, finally broke down in the Asia-Pacific region.
すると、真珠湾は１９２９年の大恐慌から混迷を深めた国際秩序が、アジア・太平洋地域でもついにこわれてしまった破断点だったといえるだろう。
The world's major powers formed exclusive economic blocs to protect their interests, and that led to World War II.
当時は、列強各国が権益を守るためにブロック経済に走り、戦争を招いたのだ。
Nowadays, there are more diverse frameworks of international cooperation, such as the Group of 8 and the G-20, and the necessity of international policy coordination in many fields is much better understood than in the past.
それに比べて、いまはＧ８、Ｇ２０といった多様な国際連携の枠組みがある。多くの分野で政策協調の必要性も広く理解されている。
On the other hand, the World Trade Organization has come to a standstill, and this could cause member nations to rush into forming economic blocs. In this age of the Internet, a local crisis can immediately develop into a global crisis, and there is no refuge for anyone.
だが一方では、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）が立ち往生し、へたをすると各国がブロック経済へと突き進む恐れもある。インターネットの時代、危機は瞬時に世界を駆けめぐり、破局から避難できる場所はどこにもない。
Historically, there is no such thing as a recurring drama.
歴史上、同じドラマが起こることはない。
But it is also a fact that history repeats similar mistakes.
だが、歴史が似たような過ちを繰り返すのも事実だ。
That is because humans are often incapable of controlling their desires, political ambitions and technology.
人間はしばしば、みずからの欲望や政治的なパワー、技術力を制御できなくなってしまうからだ。
Domestic, international stability go together
■内外の安定は一体
The progress of Japan's modernization was made possible by stability at home and peace in the world.
近代日本の歩みは、国内の安定と国際的な平和が一体的に支え合っていたことを教えてくれる。
The policy of international cooperation that characterized Japanese diplomacy during the two decades of the Taisho Era (1912-1926) mirrored the state of the post-World War I world.
大正デモクラシーから２０年代の協調外交は、第１次大戦後の国際情勢を映していた。
Japan's attainment of post-World War II prosperity was proof that the nation was able to enjoy peace under the strong leadership of the United States during the Cold War years.
第２次大戦後の繁栄は、冷戦期の米国の強い先導力のもと、日本が平和を享受できた証しだ。
Put another way, Japan becomes unstable when international relations begin to deteriorate.
逆に言えば、国際関係にさざ波が立つと、日本は不安定になる。
Pearl Harbor happened when political turmoil at home was compounded by crises abroad.
そこに国内政治の揺らぎが重なり、内外の危機が共振し合った先に、真珠湾があった。
In present-day Japan, the failure of the historic regime change of 2009 to renovate Japanese politics has deepened the public's sense of disappointment. In diplomacy, Japan has to contend with the destabilization of Asia due to America's diminishing influence and China's emergence.
いまの日本は、内では政権交代が政治を刷新できずに国民の失望を深め、外では米国の影響力低下と中国の台頭によるアジアの不安定化に直面している。
Faced with uncertainties both at home and abroad, now is the time for us to learn three lessons from history leading up to Pearl Harbor.
内外とも混迷するいまだからこそ、私たちは真珠湾に至った歴史から三つの教訓を学ぶべきだと考える。
The first lesson is that we must not seek any simple, quick solution to a problem in times of crisis.
ひとつは、危機の時代には、単純な解決を性急に求めないことだ。
In prewar Japan, the disintegration of party politics resulted in the military seizing dictatorial power.
戦前は政党政治の迷走の果てに、軍部による独裁的な政治に行き着いた。
In that process, the people turned to militarism as a means for getting their nation out of a jam.
その過程で、国民は武断政治に活路を見いだそうとしていた。
Since Junichiro Koizumi became prime minister in 2001, the public has become used to "theatrical" politics characterized by decisive, clever slogans that have a strong populist appeal.
いまの政治も小泉首相以来、断定的な言葉で世論の受けを狙う「劇場型」が幅を利かす。
But there can never be a clear-cut solution to any complex issue involving conflicting interests.
複雑に利害が絡み合う問題は、一刀両断にはできない。
We must not forget that resolving such an issue requires thorough preparation, patience and a determination to follow it through.
周到な準備と粘り強い実行力が要ることを忘れてはならない。
Respect opinions of others
■他者の視座を持って
The second lesson to learn from history is that we must respect the diversity of thought, especially in times of crisis.
ふたつめは、危機の時代にこそ、意見の多様性を尊重することだ。
Before and during World War II, society was all too ready to denounce people who voiced their own opinions as "traitors to the country," and that killed freedom of thought and expression.
かつて、異論を唱えるものに「非国民」とレッテルを貼る風潮が、自由にものを語りあう空気を社会から奪った。
We must watch out for people who make "brave" assertions and refuse to listen to or accept different opinions. And we must shun the sort of nationalism that fans hatred.
相手の言い分に耳を傾けない勇ましい議論や、異なる見解を封じ、憎悪をあおるナショナリズムには警戒すべきだ。
Respecting minority opinions broadens our options.
少数者の意見を尊重することが、選択肢を広げていくのだ。
The third lesson is that we must look at ourselves objectively when we turn our eyes to the rest of the world.
三つめは、世界に目を向けるときは、あわせて他者の視座でわが身を見ることだ。
Kiyoshi Kiyosawa (1890-1945), a journalist who criticized myopic foreign policy opinions before and during the war, noted: "Japan's greatest handicap is its inability to explain its partner's position on international issues. Its own position is the only position Japan can understand."
「日本で最大の不自由は、国際問題において、対手（あいて）の立場を説明することができない一事だ。日本には自分の立場しかない」。視野の狭い外交論議を批判した戦前・戦中のジャーナリスト清沢洌（きよし）の言葉である。
His observation was completely accurate, given that Japan drove itself into the Pacific War because it underestimated Chinese nationalism and misread America's intentions.
中国ナショナリズムの軽視と米国の意図の読み違いが、日本を戦争に追い込んだことを考えれば、この言葉は重い。
Today, Japan's survival hinges on understanding China's motive behind its rapid expansion and deciding how best to rebuild the Japan-U.S. relationship.
まさにいまも、強大化する中国の意図をどう見すえ、米国との関係をどう再構築するのかが、この国の死活的な問題になっている。
On the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, which the U.S. historian Samuel E. Morrison (1887-1976) called "a grand strategic blunder" for Japan, let us remind ourselves of the above three lessons.
米歴史家モリソンが「戦略的な愚行」と呼んだ真珠湾攻撃から７０年の日に、改めて三つの教訓を胸に刻む。
真珠湾７０年―危機の時代へ三つの教訓
↓
1) The first lesson is that we must not seek any simple, quick solution to a problem in times of crisis.
1) ひとつは、危機の時代には、単純な解決を性急に求めないことだ。
2) The second lesson to learn from history is that we must respect the diversity of thought, especially in times of crisis.
2) ふたつめは、危機の時代にこそ、意見の多様性を尊重することだ。
3) The third lesson is that we must look at ourselves objectively when we turn our eyes to the rest of the world.
3) 三つめは、世界に目を向けるときは、あわせて他者の視座でわが身を見ることだ。
久々に朝日新聞の力作だと思います。
（スラチャイ）
--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 7
EDITORIAL: 3 continuing lessons from the Pearl Harbor attack
真珠湾７０年―危機の時代へ三つの教訓
December 07, 2011 Dec. 8 (Japan time) marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Pacific War.
太平洋戦争の開戦から、あすで７０年になる。
News of a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, by a task force of the Imperial Japanese Navy threw the Japanese people into wild elation.
日本の機動部隊が、ハワイ・真珠湾の米太平洋艦隊を急襲した知らせに、国民は熱狂した。
Novelist Sei Ito (1905-1969) noted to the effect: "Yes! This is the way to go." Actor Musei Tokugawa (1894-1971) recalled, "I felt my whole body tingle with excitement."
「ああこれでいい。これで大丈夫だ」（小説家の伊藤整）、「身体がキューッとなる感じ」（俳優の徳川夢声）。
But that day was the beginning of Japan's downfall, which ended with its unconditional surrender three years and eight months later.
だが、それは３年８カ月後の全面敗北に至る転落の始まりだった。
The Pearl Harbor attack has been discussed extensively.
真珠湾はさまざまに総括されてきた。
In Japan, the recurring question has been why the nation was so foolhardy as to go to war with the United States, whose strength was vastly superior.
日本では、圧倒的に強い米国に無謀な戦争を挑んだ理由が問われた。
Was this to blame on the out-of-control military? Or did political confusion of the time play a factor? Or did the media fan jingoistic feelings that were already surging around the nation?
軍部の暴走か、政治の混迷に原因があるのか。メディアが火に油を注いだ国民の熱狂のためか。
In his address before Congress, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) called the day "a date which will live in infamy."
米国にとっては「不名誉の日」（ルーズベルト大統領の戦争教書演説）である。
For the Americans, Pearl Harbor became an object lesson in how a country can fall flat on its face for underestimating its opponent.
相手をあなどった結果の失態として語り継がれる。
During the Cold War, the lesson was applied to America's relationship with the Soviet Union. The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were likened to Pearl Harbor.
冷戦時代にはソ連に備える教訓となり、２００１年の同時多発テロは新たな「真珠湾」とされた。
International order's breaking point
■国際秩序の破断点
History is always reviewed in the light of the present.
歴史はたえず現在に照らして問い直される。
How should we interpret Pearl Harbor today amid the escalation of the European debt crisis and concerns about the future of democracy?
ならば、欧州発の経済危機がとどまるところを知らず、民主主義の未来が危ぶまれつつある今日、真珠湾はどんな意味を持つのか。
Let us put the start of the Pacific War in a broader historical context, rather than look at it as an error in judgment by the Japanese government or an outcome of Tokyo's falling-out with Washington.
ひとつの視点として、開戦を日本政府の判断の過ちや、日米対立の産物ととらえるだけでなく、もう少し広く歴史を見渡して位置づけてみる。
Seen in that light, one could say that Pearl Harbor represented the point where the international order, which was already in bad shape since the Great Depression of 1929, finally broke down in the Asia-Pacific region.
すると、真珠湾は１９２９年の大恐慌から混迷を深めた国際秩序が、アジア・太平洋地域でもついにこわれてしまった破断点だったといえるだろう。
The world's major powers formed exclusive economic blocs to protect their interests, and that led to World War II.
当時は、列強各国が権益を守るためにブロック経済に走り、戦争を招いたのだ。
Nowadays, there are more diverse frameworks of international cooperation, such as the Group of 8 and the G-20, and the necessity of international policy coordination in many fields is much better understood than in the past.
それに比べて、いまはＧ８、Ｇ２０といった多様な国際連携の枠組みがある。多くの分野で政策協調の必要性も広く理解されている。
On the other hand, the World Trade Organization has come to a standstill, and this could cause member nations to rush into forming economic blocs. In this age of the Internet, a local crisis can immediately develop into a global crisis, and there is no refuge for anyone.
だが一方では、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）が立ち往生し、へたをすると各国がブロック経済へと突き進む恐れもある。インターネットの時代、危機は瞬時に世界を駆けめぐり、破局から避難できる場所はどこにもない。
Historically, there is no such thing as a recurring drama.
歴史上、同じドラマが起こることはない。
But it is also a fact that history repeats similar mistakes.
だが、歴史が似たような過ちを繰り返すのも事実だ。
That is because humans are often incapable of controlling their desires, political ambitions and technology.
人間はしばしば、みずからの欲望や政治的なパワー、技術力を制御できなくなってしまうからだ。
Domestic, international stability go together
■内外の安定は一体
The progress of Japan's modernization was made possible by stability at home and peace in the world.
近代日本の歩みは、国内の安定と国際的な平和が一体的に支え合っていたことを教えてくれる。
The policy of international cooperation that characterized Japanese diplomacy during the two decades of the Taisho Era (1912-1926) mirrored the state of the post-World War I world.
大正デモクラシーから２０年代の協調外交は、第１次大戦後の国際情勢を映していた。
Japan's attainment of post-World War II prosperity was proof that the nation was able to enjoy peace under the strong leadership of the United States during the Cold War years.
第２次大戦後の繁栄は、冷戦期の米国の強い先導力のもと、日本が平和を享受できた証しだ。
Put another way, Japan becomes unstable when international relations begin to deteriorate.
逆に言えば、国際関係にさざ波が立つと、日本は不安定になる。
Pearl Harbor happened when political turmoil at home was compounded by crises abroad.
そこに国内政治の揺らぎが重なり、内外の危機が共振し合った先に、真珠湾があった。
In present-day Japan, the failure of the historic regime change of 2009 to renovate Japanese politics has deepened the public's sense of disappointment. In diplomacy, Japan has to contend with the destabilization of Asia due to America's diminishing influence and China's emergence.
いまの日本は、内では政権交代が政治を刷新できずに国民の失望を深め、外では米国の影響力低下と中国の台頭によるアジアの不安定化に直面している。
Faced with uncertainties both at home and abroad, now is the time for us to learn three lessons from history leading up to Pearl Harbor.
内外とも混迷するいまだからこそ、私たちは真珠湾に至った歴史から三つの教訓を学ぶべきだと考える。
The first lesson is that we must not seek any simple, quick solution to a problem in times of crisis.
ひとつは、危機の時代には、単純な解決を性急に求めないことだ。
In prewar Japan, the disintegration of party politics resulted in the military seizing dictatorial power.
戦前は政党政治の迷走の果てに、軍部による独裁的な政治に行き着いた。
In that process, the people turned to militarism as a means for getting their nation out of a jam.
その過程で、国民は武断政治に活路を見いだそうとしていた。
Since Junichiro Koizumi became prime minister in 2001, the public has become used to "theatrical" politics characterized by decisive, clever slogans that have a strong populist appeal.
いまの政治も小泉首相以来、断定的な言葉で世論の受けを狙う「劇場型」が幅を利かす。
But there can never be a clear-cut solution to any complex issue involving conflicting interests.
複雑に利害が絡み合う問題は、一刀両断にはできない。
We must not forget that resolving such an issue requires thorough preparation, patience and a determination to follow it through.
周到な準備と粘り強い実行力が要ることを忘れてはならない。
Respect opinions of others
■他者の視座を持って
The second lesson to learn from history is that we must respect the diversity of thought, especially in times of crisis.
ふたつめは、危機の時代にこそ、意見の多様性を尊重することだ。
Before and during World War II, society was all too ready to denounce people who voiced their own opinions as "traitors to the country," and that killed freedom of thought and expression.
かつて、異論を唱えるものに「非国民」とレッテルを貼る風潮が、自由にものを語りあう空気を社会から奪った。
We must watch out for people who make "brave" assertions and refuse to listen to or accept different opinions. And we must shun the sort of nationalism that fans hatred.
相手の言い分に耳を傾けない勇ましい議論や、異なる見解を封じ、憎悪をあおるナショナリズムには警戒すべきだ。
Respecting minority opinions broadens our options.
少数者の意見を尊重することが、選択肢を広げていくのだ。
The third lesson is that we must look at ourselves objectively when we turn our eyes to the rest of the world.
三つめは、世界に目を向けるときは、あわせて他者の視座でわが身を見ることだ。
Kiyoshi Kiyosawa (1890-1945), a journalist who criticized myopic foreign policy opinions before and during the war, noted: "Japan's greatest handicap is its inability to explain its partner's position on international issues. Its own position is the only position Japan can understand."
「日本で最大の不自由は、国際問題において、対手（あいて）の立場を説明することができない一事だ。日本には自分の立場しかない」。視野の狭い外交論議を批判した戦前・戦中のジャーナリスト清沢洌（きよし）の言葉である。
His observation was completely accurate, given that Japan drove itself into the Pacific War because it underestimated Chinese nationalism and misread America's intentions.
中国ナショナリズムの軽視と米国の意図の読み違いが、日本を戦争に追い込んだことを考えれば、この言葉は重い。
Today, Japan's survival hinges on understanding China's motive behind its rapid expansion and deciding how best to rebuild the Japan-U.S. relationship.
まさにいまも、強大化する中国の意図をどう見すえ、米国との関係をどう再構築するのかが、この国の死活的な問題になっている。
On the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack, which the U.S. historian Samuel E. Morrison (1887-1976) called "a grand strategic blunder" for Japan, let us remind ourselves of the above three lessons.
米歴史家モリソンが「戦略的な愚行」と呼んだ真珠湾攻撃から７０年の日に、改めて三つの教訓を胸に刻む。
2011/12/08
ロシア下院選 陰りうかがえるプーチン支配
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 7, 2011)
Putin's grip on power wanes as public discontent grows
ロシア下院選 陰りうかがえるプーチン支配（12月6日付・読売社説）
Results of Sunday's elections in Russia have shown in black and white the mounting public discontent with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has dominated power for more than a decade.
ロシアの実権を長年にわたり握り続けるプーチン首相に対し、不満が高まっていることを浮き彫りにした選挙結果だ。
The United Russia party led by Putin lost many seats in the State Duma, or the lower house.
ロシア下院選で、プーチン氏の率いる与党「統一ロシア」が、議席を大きく減らした。
The party fell far short of its goal of holding the two-thirds of the 450 seats--the number needed to revise the Russian Constitution--that it held before the election. It did no better than maintain a majority.
定数４５０議席のうち、憲法改正に必要な３分の２の議席を占めていた「現状維持」の目標達成には及ばず、過半数を維持するにとどまった。
The largest opposition Communist Party, which has criticized growing income gaps and called for a fairer distribution of wealth, increased its preelection representation of 57 seats by more than 30 seats.
所得格差拡大を批判し、富の公正な分配を求めた最大野党の共産党が、選挙前の５７議席から、３０以上も議席を増やした。
This indicates many voters who had become disillusioned with the government voted for the Communists.
政権に対する不満の受け皿となった形だ。
The popularity of Putin, who is widely believed to be a shoo-in in next year's presidential election, seems to be on the wane.
来年の大統領選で当選が確実視されているプーチン氏も、その人気に陰りがうかがえる。
===
Communist Party prevails
The lower house poll was the second since the Russian election system was changed to hold elections only through proportional representation. The new system was believed to be extremely advantageous for the ruling party because it has an extensive national network of organizations.
今回の下院選は、選挙制度改革で比例選だけになってから２度目の選挙で、強固な全国組織を持つ与党にきわめて有利と見られていた。
Political groups with fewer local chapters are not officially recognized as political parties and thus are not allowed to run in elections.
地方支部が少ない政治団体は政党として認められず、選挙に参加できないからだ。
Nevertheless, the ruling party has suffered a setback. Putin admitted this "reflects the real situation" in Russia. にもかかわらず、与党が不振だったことについて、プーチン氏は「今のロシアの現実を反映する」とコメントした。
The election result might have been unexpected, but he must accept it gravely.
思わぬ誤算だったのかもしれないが、重く受け止めざるを得ないだろう。
After Putin was elected president in 2000, he served two terms spanning eight years. In 2008, he handed the presidency to Dmitry Medvedev and instead became prime minister to keep his grip on power.
プーチン氏は、２０００年から大統領職を２期８年間務め、０８年に大統領職をメドベージェフ氏に委ねたのち、首相の座にとどまって実権を握ってきた。
Medvedev trumpeted slogans of establishing the rule of law and fostering high-tech industries, but he will leave office next spring without achieving anything significant.
メドベージェフ大統領は、法治主義の確立と先端産業育成を旗印に掲げたが、十分な成果をあげないまま、来春、任期を終える。
Putin will have no strong rival in the presidential election scheduled for next March.
プーチン氏には、来年３月の大統領選で有力な対抗馬がいない。
In fact, he still has strong support from many Russian people.
いまだに国民多数の根強い支持を得ていることも事実だ。
But if he has aspirations of holding on to the presidency in the long term, he will have to tackle a host of issues.
しかし、長期政権の維持を目指すにしても、課題は山積している。
===
Corruption still rife
Corruption that has spread its tentacles to the furthest reaches of the bureaucracy has yet to be eradicated.
官僚組織の末端にまで及ぶ汚職の蔓延(まんえん)は、いっこうに改善されていない。
By forging close ties with the bureaucratic machine, United Russia appears to be monopolizing the nation's rights and interests.
「統一ロシア」は官僚とつながり、利権を独占していると見られている。
Strong public dissatisfaction with this was a factor behind the ruling party's poor election showing.
国民の強い不満が、与党不振の一因にもなった。
The Russian economy has been unable to break away from its reliance on energy resources, so the country's revenue is largely influenced by fluctuations in crude oil prices.
経済は、エネルギー資源に依存する体質から脱却できず、原油価格の変動で国家の歳入は大きく左右される。
Many Russians are worried the debt crisis roiling Europe--Moscow's biggest trading partner--will affect their country.
最大の貿易相手の欧州が債務危機に苦しむのを見て、ロシアにも影響が及ぶのではないかと国民は不安を感じている。
It is evident that Russia needs to implement political, economic and social reforms.
ロシアが、政治、経済、社会の各分野で、改革を必要としているのは明らかだ。
Putin will need to squarely deal with challenges that have been put off for years and produce tangible results.
プーチン氏は、こうした積年の課題に正面から取り組み、成果を出していかなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2011)
（2011年12月6日01時11分 読売新聞）
Putin's grip on power wanes as public discontent grows
ロシア下院選 陰りうかがえるプーチン支配（12月6日付・読売社説）
Results of Sunday's elections in Russia have shown in black and white the mounting public discontent with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who has dominated power for more than a decade.
ロシアの実権を長年にわたり握り続けるプーチン首相に対し、不満が高まっていることを浮き彫りにした選挙結果だ。
The United Russia party led by Putin lost many seats in the State Duma, or the lower house.
ロシア下院選で、プーチン氏の率いる与党「統一ロシア」が、議席を大きく減らした。
The party fell far short of its goal of holding the two-thirds of the 450 seats--the number needed to revise the Russian Constitution--that it held before the election. It did no better than maintain a majority.
定数４５０議席のうち、憲法改正に必要な３分の２の議席を占めていた「現状維持」の目標達成には及ばず、過半数を維持するにとどまった。
The largest opposition Communist Party, which has criticized growing income gaps and called for a fairer distribution of wealth, increased its preelection representation of 57 seats by more than 30 seats.
所得格差拡大を批判し、富の公正な分配を求めた最大野党の共産党が、選挙前の５７議席から、３０以上も議席を増やした。
This indicates many voters who had become disillusioned with the government voted for the Communists.
政権に対する不満の受け皿となった形だ。
The popularity of Putin, who is widely believed to be a shoo-in in next year's presidential election, seems to be on the wane.
来年の大統領選で当選が確実視されているプーチン氏も、その人気に陰りがうかがえる。
===
Communist Party prevails
The lower house poll was the second since the Russian election system was changed to hold elections only through proportional representation. The new system was believed to be extremely advantageous for the ruling party because it has an extensive national network of organizations.
今回の下院選は、選挙制度改革で比例選だけになってから２度目の選挙で、強固な全国組織を持つ与党にきわめて有利と見られていた。
Political groups with fewer local chapters are not officially recognized as political parties and thus are not allowed to run in elections.
地方支部が少ない政治団体は政党として認められず、選挙に参加できないからだ。
Nevertheless, the ruling party has suffered a setback. Putin admitted this "reflects the real situation" in Russia. にもかかわらず、与党が不振だったことについて、プーチン氏は「今のロシアの現実を反映する」とコメントした。
The election result might have been unexpected, but he must accept it gravely.
思わぬ誤算だったのかもしれないが、重く受け止めざるを得ないだろう。
After Putin was elected president in 2000, he served two terms spanning eight years. In 2008, he handed the presidency to Dmitry Medvedev and instead became prime minister to keep his grip on power.
プーチン氏は、２０００年から大統領職を２期８年間務め、０８年に大統領職をメドベージェフ氏に委ねたのち、首相の座にとどまって実権を握ってきた。
Medvedev trumpeted slogans of establishing the rule of law and fostering high-tech industries, but he will leave office next spring without achieving anything significant.
メドベージェフ大統領は、法治主義の確立と先端産業育成を旗印に掲げたが、十分な成果をあげないまま、来春、任期を終える。
Putin will have no strong rival in the presidential election scheduled for next March.
プーチン氏には、来年３月の大統領選で有力な対抗馬がいない。
In fact, he still has strong support from many Russian people.
いまだに国民多数の根強い支持を得ていることも事実だ。
But if he has aspirations of holding on to the presidency in the long term, he will have to tackle a host of issues.
しかし、長期政権の維持を目指すにしても、課題は山積している。
===
Corruption still rife
Corruption that has spread its tentacles to the furthest reaches of the bureaucracy has yet to be eradicated.
官僚組織の末端にまで及ぶ汚職の蔓延(まんえん)は、いっこうに改善されていない。
By forging close ties with the bureaucratic machine, United Russia appears to be monopolizing the nation's rights and interests.
「統一ロシア」は官僚とつながり、利権を独占していると見られている。
Strong public dissatisfaction with this was a factor behind the ruling party's poor election showing.
国民の強い不満が、与党不振の一因にもなった。
The Russian economy has been unable to break away from its reliance on energy resources, so the country's revenue is largely influenced by fluctuations in crude oil prices.
経済は、エネルギー資源に依存する体質から脱却できず、原油価格の変動で国家の歳入は大きく左右される。
Many Russians are worried the debt crisis roiling Europe--Moscow's biggest trading partner--will affect their country.
最大の貿易相手の欧州が債務危機に苦しむのを見て、ロシアにも影響が及ぶのではないかと国民は不安を感じている。
It is evident that Russia needs to implement political, economic and social reforms.
ロシアが、政治、経済、社会の各分野で、改革を必要としているのは明らかだ。
Putin will need to squarely deal with challenges that have been put off for years and produce tangible results.
プーチン氏は、こうした積年の課題に正面から取り組み、成果を出していかなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2011)
（2011年12月6日01時11分 読売新聞）
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