日本は何故、反省しないのか？

Financial Times

Editorial: Koizumi diplomacy lacking
The Yomiuri Shimbun/Daily Yomiuri - Japan; Jul 23, 2001

The summit meeting of the Group of Eight major countries closed Sunday in Genoa, Italy, after adopting the communique.

As the first such summit conference of the 21st century it was expected to present clear guidelines on how to tackle the urgent task of the global economy and the new international order, centering on security.

However, the fact that the meeting ended with no significant achievements raises concerns over the future of such summit talks.

The conference fell short due to frictions between the United States and Europe and the United States and Russia. These tensions resulted from the fact that the United States is increasingly putting priority on its own national interests.

The conflict between the United States and Europe was most apparent in disputes over security issues and the Kyoto Protocol, a 1997 international accord meant to address global warming.

More deeply divided

As to the Kyoto Protocol, the United States, which has withdrawn from the pact, and France and other states, which insist on ratifying the protocol without Washington, became even more deeply divided. In the end, the G-8 communique said that the countries would cooperate to achieve common objectives, acknowledging the disagreement between the United States and Europe. But by doing so, the leaders only postponed resolving the issue in an attempt to avoid complete collapse of their talks.

Recent summit talks of the advanced nations always dealt with security issues, with the focus on arms control and disarmament. For instance, the G-8 declaration adopted at the Okinawa summit meeting last year called for putting into force at the earliest possible date the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and maintaining and strengthening the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty.

In the Genoa summit, however, the world leaders did not discuss arms control or reductions, and the declaration did not even touch on these issues.

This was out of consideration to the United States, which is unwilling to ratify the CTBT, and there were conflicts between Russia and the United States -- even before the G-8 summit -- over the ABM Treaty, which Washington claims is an obstacle to its missile defense program.

Sending the wrong signal

Major countries that possess nuclear weapons must take the most responsibility on arms control and reductions. If they cannot form a united front, they will send the wrong signal to China, India and Pakistan. This could consequently deter efforts on nuclear arms reductions.

In that case, summit meetings of the advanced nations will not be able to achieve their essential roles and responsibilities.

In such summit talks, the world's major countries have been leading the international community in concerted efforts, sharing the common values of freedom and democracy. About 10 years after the end of the Cold War, their responsibilities remain unchanged.

We must not forget that Japan has a heavy responsibility in this regard. We regret to say Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi did not play a sufficient role in resolving disputes over the Kyoto Protocol. This also applies to arms control and disarmament, problems that Japan has been positively dealing with.

How will Japan play its role in the international community? The Genoa summit conference made clear that the Koizumi administration must review its diplomatic strategies.

Such summit meetings provide Japan the only opportunity to candidly exchange views with leaders of major countries.

We believe it is also important to review the management of the summit meetings to enable world leaders to negotiate urgent tasks as the occasion demands so that they can deal with various issues effectively.

(From July 23 Yomiuri Shimbun)