The Yomiuri Shimbun
Can Putin’s visit to Japan help move N. territories issue forward?
日露首脳会談 大統領来日で「領土」は動くか

Will Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Japan serve as the first step in moving forward with the northern territories issue, which has remained unsettled for as long as the 71 years since World War II ended?
戦後71年間も未解決の北方領土問題を動かす一歩となるのだろうか。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks with Putin in Vladivostok, Russia, and the two leaders officially agreed to meet in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Dec. 15. They also agreed to hold talks in Peru in November on the sidelines of an international conference.
安倍首相はロシア・ウラジオストクでプーチン大統領と会談し、12月15日に山口県で会談することに正式合意した。11月のペルーでの国際会議時にも会談する。

“I was able to find a specific approach to move the negotiations forward,” Abe said following the talks with Putin. “I sensed a solid response.” Having held talks as many as 14 times so far, the two leaders have obviously built a certain relationship of trust.
首相は会談後、「交渉を具体的に進める道筋が見えてきた。手応えを強く感じ取ることができた」と語った。両首脳の会談は14回にも上る。一定の信頼関係が築けてきたのは間違いあるまい。

There is strong opposition in Russia to the return of the four northern islands. The waters around them hold military significance as part of the Pacific route, and Russian forces have increased the number of soldiers stationed there. Therefore, we cannot have an optimistic view about the territorial negotiations.
ロシアでは、北方4島の返還への反対論が根強い。周辺海域は太平洋航路として軍事上の重要性が高い。駐留ロシア軍も増強された。領土交渉は楽観できない。

We believe that no one but Putin, the most powerful figure in Russia, can make such a significant decision as returning the territories. It is understandable that Abe aims to settle the issue using a top-down approach while holding frequent talks with his Russian counterpart.
領土の返還という重い決断は、最高権力者のプーチン氏にしかできまい。頻繁な首脳会談を通じて、トップダウンで決着を図ろうとする首相の意図は理解できる。

The prime minister apparently had a similar aim when he delivered a speech in Vladivostok calling for talks with Putin to be held once a year.
首相が現地で演説し、年1回のウラジオストクでの首脳会談を提案したのも、同じ狙いだろう。

Leading up to Putin’s visit to Japan, the government should make every effort in the preliminary negotiations so this precious opportunity — the first visit by a Russian president in about six years — can give momentum to the northern territories issue.
約6年ぶりの露大統領来日という貴重な機会を領土問題の進展につなげるため、政府は事前交渉に力を入れる必要がある。

During the latest talks, Abe and Putin reconfirmed that their countries will hold territorial negotiations using a “new approach,” without sticking to conventional ideas. Japan’s basic strategy is that it will look for clues to settle the issue while improving bilateral cooperation in various fields to move Japan-Russia relations forward as a whole and from a future-oriented standpoint.
今回の会談では、従来の発想にとらわれない「新しいアプローチ」で領土交渉を進める方針を再確認した。様々な分野で協力を進め、未来志向で日露関係全体を前進させる中で、領土問題の解決の糸口を探るのが日本の基本戦略だ。

Don’t be hasty

Abe also discussed the current situation in the eight areas of economic cooperation Japan has presented, including energy and development in Russia’s Far Eastern region. The prime minister said that Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshige Seko has been named to concurrently serve as minister for economic cooperation with Russia, and a council comprising of government and private-sector entities will also be established.
首相は、日本側が提案したエネルギー、極東開発など8項目の経済協力の現状を説明した。世耕経済産業相に担当相を兼務させ、官民協議会も設置するという。

Russia has great hopes for Japan because it has been suffering a sluggish economy hit by falling oil prices and other factors. We believe Japan also can enjoy advantages, such as securing natural resources and gaining profits from investment in Russia, depending on the extent to which bilateral cooperation develops.
ロシアは、原油安などに伴う経済低迷が続き、日本への期待が大きい。日本側にも、協力の展開次第では、資源確保や投資の利益回収などのメリットがあろう。

However, Japan should never be hasty, because the history of bilateral relations shows that the northern territories issue has always been left behind while only bilateral economic cooperation was put forward. The government should scrutinize what is included in projects when promoting cooperation with Russia.
ただ、経済協力だけが先行し、領土問題は取り残されるのが日露の歴史だった。前のめりになるのは禁物だ。事業内容を吟味し、協力を進めることが欠かせない。

It is also important for the two countries to work together in the security field. The Japanese and Russian foreign ministries held talks on the issue in early July. We hope they make sure to continue strategic dialogues.
安全保障分野での協力も重要である。日露外務省による安保協議が7月上旬、開催された。戦略的な対話を着実に重ねたい。

A serious rift remains, with Russia on one side and the United States and European countries on the other, over Russia’s activities in Ukraine and Syria. Japan should refrain from disrupting cooperation among the Group of Seven major powers in terms of economic sanctions against Russia.
ウクライナ、シリア情勢を巡る米欧とロシアの対立は依然、深刻だ。日本が先進7か国(G7)の対露経済制裁の足並みを乱すことは避けねばならない。

The U.S. government is taking a calm stance regarding Putin’s visit to Japan, saying it is “not concerned or worried.” Japan should continue its efforts to provide the United States and European countries with extensive explanations on its relations with Russia to seek their understanding.
米政府はプーチン氏来日について「懸念も心配もしていない」と静観している。日本は、日露関係について米欧に丁寧に説明し、理解を得る努力を続けるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2016)

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