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タイ在住11年目、妻はタイ人、娘が2人、養女が2人

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan, Germany should work together to reinforce rule of law to settle rows
日独首脳会談　紛争解決へ「法の支配」強めよ

Pursuing peace and prosperity while respecting international order and rules — it is highly significant that Japan and Germany have agreed to join hands and perform their respective roles in achieving this goal.
　国際秩序とルールを重んじ、平和と繁栄を追求する。そのために、日独両国が連携し、役割を果たす意義は大きい。

During a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized the two countries will “cooperate closely as important partners sharing basic values.” Merkel responded by saying the two countries “share common values.”
　ドイツのメルケル首相が来日し、安倍首相と会談した。安倍首相は「基本的価値を共有する重要なパートナーとして、緊密に協力したい」と強調した。メルケル首相は「日独両国は価値を共有する関係だ」と語った。

Abe and Merkel confirmed that the foreign ministries of their countries will hold regular consultative talks to find a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian issue. They also concurred that the two countries will call for Russia, which is in a position to influence pro-Russia armed groups, to play a constructive role in resolving the Ukrainian crisis.
　両首脳は、ウクライナ情勢の平和的な解決へ、日独外務省が定期協議を行う方針を確認した。親ロシア派武装集団に影響力を持つロシアに対し、建設的役割を果たすよう求めることでも一致した。

The Group of Seven industrialized nations, including Japan and Germany, have ramped up economic sanctions against Moscow for Russia’s attempts to “change the status quo by use of force,” including its annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Compared with the United States and Britain, which have taken a hard-line stance toward Moscow, Japan and Germany have taken a stand of drawing concessions from Russia through continued dialogue.
　日独など先進７か国（Ｇ７）は、クリミア半島編入などのロシアの「力による現状変更」を認めず、経済制裁を強化してきた。米英などがロシアにより強硬なのに対して、日独は、ロシアとの対話を継続し、譲歩を促す立場である。

To realize a policy shift by Moscow, it is essential that the G-7 take both conciliatory and hard-line approaches in dealing with the country.
　ロシアの方針転換の実現には、Ｇ７が硬軟両様でロシアに働きかけることが欠かせない。

This year’s G-7 summit will be held in Germany in June, with Japan to host it next year. As the chair countries of this and next year’s G-7 summits, Japan and Germany need to work together closely in coordinating the G-7’s strategy vis-a-vis Moscow to bring about more effective results.
　Ｇ７首脳会議は６月にドイツで、来年は日本で開かれる。現在と次期の議長国が緊密に連携し、Ｇ７全体の戦略を調整し、より効果的なものにする必要がある。

Coordinating strategy

During their meeting, Abe and Merkel also agreed to bolster antiterrorism measures against such radical militant groups as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. International encirclement of such groups to stem the flow of combatants and funds to them must be tackled urgently. Japan and Germany should take the initiative in addressing this matter.
　会談では、過激派組織「イスラム国」などのテロ対策で日独協力を強化することも合意した。戦闘員や資金の流入を阻止する国際包囲網の構築が急務だ。日独は、その取り組みを主導すべきだ。

With China’s increasing maritime presence in the East and South China Seas in mind, Abe briefed Merkel on the East Asian situation during the meeting.
　安倍首相は会談で、中国の東・南シナ海での海洋進出を念頭に、東アジア情勢を説明した。

Merkel’s visit to Japan this time is the first in seven years. In the meantime, she visited China five times. This obviously shows that Germany attaches importance to expanding economic cooperation with China, which is its largest trading partner in Asia.
　メルケル首相の来日は７年ぶりだ。この間、中国には５回訪れた。アジアにおける最大の貿易相手である中国との経済協力の拡充を重視しているのは明らかだ。

A huge Chinese market is very attractive for any foreign country. But there have been problems as China has insisted on self-righteous assertions on such issues as trade, investment and intellectual property rights.
　巨大な中国市場は、各国にとって大きな魅力だ。一方で、中国は貿易、投資、知的財産権などに関して、独善的な主張が目立ち、様々なトラブルを起こしている。

Making China comply with international rules in such fields as maritime security is a common agenda for the world. Japan should deepen discussions on this matter with Germany and other countries concerned.
　海洋安全保障を含め、中国に国際ルールを順守させることは各国共通の課題だ。日本は、ドイツなど関係国との議論を深めたい。

Referring to Germany’s historical perception of the past 70 years since the end of World War II in a post-summit news conference, Merkel said, “Summing up the past can be a prerequisite to reconciliation,” but she avoided referring to Japan-China and Japan-South Korea relations.
　メルケル首相は会談後の記者会見で、ドイツ自身の戦後７０年の歴史認識に関して「過去の総括が和解の前提となる」と述べた。日中・日韓関係への言及は避けた。

This year will see many diplomatic occasions in which historical perceptions of Japan and other countries attract attention. Japan — along with Germany, which was also a defeated nation in World War II — has pursued a pacifist path and contributed to world stability based on its reflections of the wartime past. It is essential for Japan to persistently disseminate this fact to the international community.
　今年は、各国の歴史認識が注目される外交の機会が多い。日本は、同じ敗戦国のドイツと同様、先の大戦の反省を踏まえ、平和国家の道を歩み、世界の安定に貢献してきた。この事実を国際社会にきちんと発信することが肝要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 10, 2015)