ウクライナ混迷 国際合意に背を向けるロシア

The Yomiuri Shimbun 7:11 pm, May 05, 2014
Russia continues to turn its back on intl accord over Ukraine crisis
ウクライナ混迷　国際合意に背を向けるロシア

The chaos roiling Ukraine continues to intensify. It is inevitable for Russia to find itself under fire in the international community, as the Kremlin continues to make no effort to rein in armed pro-Russian separatist groups that have perpetrated an uninterrupted series of illegal activities.
　ウクライナの混乱に拍車がかかっている。違法活動を続ける親ロシア派武装集団を制止しないロシアに非難が集まるのもやむを得まい。

In the east of the deeply divided country, where Russian-speakers and people of Russian heritage make up a significant part of the populace, illegal occupations of Ukraine’s local government buildings and police stations by pro-Russian gunmen have grown in number.
　ロシア系住民の多いウクライナ東部で、親露派武装集団による、地方政府庁舎や警察署の不法占拠が拡大している。

There have been casualties in armed conflicts that saw troops of the interim authorities attempting to repel pro-Russian militants by force. Many have also died in clashes between pro-Russian activists and forces in support of Kiev in southern Ukraine. These conflicts are signs of an extremely grave situation.
　強制排除しようとした暫定政権の部隊と親露派との間の戦闘で、死傷者が出ている。親露派と暫定政府支持派の衝突は、南部でも激化し、多数が死亡した。極めて懸念される事態である。

On April 17, the United States, Russia, the Ukraine interim government and the European Union reached an agreement in Geneva calling for the illegally armed separatists to surrender their weapons and leave all illegally occupied buildings.
　米国、ロシア、ウクライナ暫定政府、欧州連合（ＥＵ）の４者は４月１７日、ジュネーブで、不法な武装集団の武装解除や、不法占拠した建物の明け渡しなどを求めることで合意した。

But two weeks after the accord, the situation continues to degenerate.
　しかし、２週間以上が過ぎても、状況は悪化するばかりだ。

Leaders of the Group of Seven major powers have condemned Moscow for failing to take action over the pro-Russian militants to comply with the Geneva agreement, and have decided to impose additional sanctions on Russia.
　先進７か国（Ｇ７）首脳は、ロシアが親露派に合意の履行を働きかけていないと批判して、ロシアへの制裁の強化に踏み切った。

There can be no doubt Russia has failed to press the pro-Russian separatists to surrender their weapons and leave the occupied buildings. Strengthened sanctions should be seen as the obvious and natural outcome.
　ロシアが親露派に武装解除や明け渡しを迫っていないのは、事実だ。制裁強化は当然だろう。

The United States has made pointed criticism of Russia, asserting that Russian special operation squads and others have continued their active involvement in campaigns aimed at further destabilizing the eastern region of Ukraine. Russia’s machinations bring to mind the Russian forces that acted in tandem with pro-Russian separatists in the run-up to the annexation of the strategic Crimean Peninsula in March.
　米国は、ロシアの特殊部隊などが、東部の不安定化に積極的関与を続けているとも非難している。ロシアへの編入前のクリミア半島で、露軍兵士が親露派と共に行動したのを想起させる動きだ。

Presidential election a key

Moscow, for its part, has denied any involvement in supporting the separatists, countering that it is the duty of the interim authorities in Kiev to disarm anti-Russian extreme right-wing groups.
　ロシアは、関与を否定し、暫定政府こそ反露的な極右集団の武装解除をすべきだと反論している。

As it stands, Russia continues a large-scale deployment of its troops near its border with Ukraine.
露軍は依然、ウクライナとの国境近くに大規模に展開中だ。

There seems to be no prospect of a breakthrough toward peace so long as things remain as they are. Under these complicated circumstances, the international community must make every possible effort to defuse the situation, not only by strengthening sanctions against Russia, but also by facilitating support for the interim government and for consultations among all parties involved.
　このままでは展望は開けまい。国際社会は、制裁に加えて、暫定政府の支援や関係国間の協議を通じ、事態打開を模索すべきだ。

Ukraine’s presidential election, scheduled for May 25, will undoubtedly be a focus of global attention. The interim authorities, in an apparent nod to demands from Russian-speaking residents for expanded autonomy, is considering a vote concerning the decentralization of authority. If the vote produces a full-fledged administration, there will arise a possibility for resolving the crisis through political processes.
　今後の焦点は、今月２５日のウクライナ大統領選だ。暫定政府は、自治の拡大を求めるロシア系住民に配慮し、分権化を問う投票も検討している。本格政権が選出されれば、危機の解決に向けた政治プロセスの始まりともなろう。

The pro-Russian militants in the east, however, have adopted a stance rejecting the presidential election and plan to carry out a “referendum” at the local level concerning secession from Ukraine.
　だが、東部の親露派は大統領選を認めない姿勢を示し、ウクライナからの分離の是非を問う独自の「住民投票」も計画している。

The international community should throw its support behind the interim authorities to enable a nationwide presidential contest, including voting in the eastern regions.
　国際社会は、大統領選が東部でも実施されるように、暫定政府を後押しすることが求められる。

The agreement just reached between U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to mete out additional sanctions against Russia in the event that Moscow attempts to obstruct the presidential election process is an international effort aimed at just that objective.
　オバマ米大統領とメルケル独首相が会談し、ロシアが大統領選を妨害するなら、一層の追加的制裁を行う方針で合意したのも、そうした狙いからだろう。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his intent to support these ends by sending a team of Japanese officials to join election observers. Our nation, too, should play a role in helping Ukraine to overcome this crisis.
　安倍首相は、選挙監視団に要員を派遣すると表明した。日本も危機収拾のために貢献したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2014)