意外なところで、コーエン国防長官が沖縄の少女暴行事件について聞かれました。
イタリア訪問中の、Andreattaイタリア国防相との共同記者会見で。
　記者の質問は、なぜ沖縄の事件は最初米国で裁判をやると言っていたのに、世論の
圧力で沖縄で裁判することになったのか？イタリアカヴァラーゼ（低空飛行機事故）
のパイロットの場合はなぜ米国での裁判なのか？
　それに対するコーエン長官の答は、イタリアの事故に関しては、米伊地位協定によ
る、沖縄の件に関しては、帰ってからどういうことだったのか調べてみる。こんな風
に答えているところを見ると、よく知らないらしいです。そのくせこの時、「彼ら（
被告の海兵隊員）は実際現地の当局（警察でしょう）にかなり厳しい扱いを受けた」
と不満を述べています。そんなことだけ覚えてるの？コ長官は事件当時、長官ではあ
りませんでした。
　Andreatta国防相が答えている間、たぶん長官はお付きの者からメモでも見せられ
たのでしょう。後でこう付け加えています。
　「日本の沖縄の場合は、海兵隊員の行動は職務中のことではない。カヴァラーゼと
は全然違う。」　アメリカの勝手な裁量で裁判権が移動するとの印象を持たれるのは
まずいと思ったのでしょう。
　記者会見から、この部分だけを抜粋しておきます。
−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and
Minister of Defense Beniamino Andreatta
Joint Press Conference
Rome, Villa Madama, June 10, 1998
 

        Q:  On Cermis: both the United States and Italian governments have
affirmed that they will provide an indemnity, claims, reparations to the
victims . I would like to have more information about that. Some three
years ago US soldiers in Okinawa raped a young Japanese girl. The initial
decision on the part of the U.S. was to hold a trial in the U.S., but then
under the pressure of public opinion the trial was in fact carried out in
Okinawa . Why in the case of the pilots from Cavalese It is being carried
out in the U.S.?  Was it an issue of insufficient pressure on the part of
the Italian government?
        A:      (Cohen):  First, I'll respond about the status of the
situation.  We are still deeply saddened by what took place at Cavalese.
All of the American people share in the grief of the families who lost
loved ones during that tragedy.  We are encouraging those who have
suffered, the families who have lost their loved ones, to file their claims
as quickly as possible with the Italian authorities and we have an
agreement whereby the United States will fulfill its obligations under the
Status of Forces here in Italy.  And hopefully that will be moving along
very expeditiously, but a lot of the initiatives must come from the
families to present their claims.
        The second part of the question is that under the Status of Forces
Agreement that the country of the sending authority, as such, in this case
the United States, under that agreement, would try the individuals
involved.  Those individuals are under investigation and there are legal
proceedings as of this time against both the pilots and co-pilots and the
passengers, as such.  Those who were in the front of the aircraft and those
who were in the rear two seats. They are both accelerating the process
right now; so we expect this will be dealt with fairly, openly and with
full information and support with the Italian authorities.
        As to the Okinawa case, I would have to go back and review the
situation there.  They were in fact dealt with rather severely by the
authorities there.  I would have to examine what the situation was as far
as we are concerned.
        A:      (Andreatta):  OK.  We are accelerating the procedures for
the families, those damaged, the loved ones in the Cermis' incident to make
their claims.  So far, only two families presented in fact requests that
include this sort of documentation that allow us to take action on them.
Italian Defense Attach's in the countries in which the victims resided will
go to the families, meet with them, encourage them to make their
applications to rapidly close out the process of the first indemnity
of100,000,000 lire, to the families of each of the victims.  They will also
be assisted in preparing the materials to make further claims for loss.
With respect to legal proceedings the Italian Ministry of Grace and Justice
has in fact, did point out to Italian authorities the reasons to hold the
trial in Italy; The United States government, however, decided to exercise
its prerogative under the Status of Forces Agreement, the London Convention
as is called in Italy, to exercise primary jurisdiction, I would note this
was an accord ratified by the Italian Parliament in 1955.  I see no
evidence of vindictiveness or an excessive defensiveness or defensive
attitude toward the air crew on either side, I believe the results of
Italian and U.S. justice in this case will be substantially the same. There
is not a vindictiveness on the part of the Italian justice nor is there an
excess of defensiveness on the side of the American justice.  What I see is
a commitment that justice be and I believe in fact that it will be more
significant as an example if justice is done by the U.S. judicial system.
        A:      (Cohen):  In Okinawa, Japan, the actions undertaken by
those Marines were not taken in the line of duty.  Compared to this
situation, (Cavalese), this is a major distinction.
        Q:  If the UN does not give authorization for an intervention in
Kosovo or the use of force in Kosovo, does the United States intend to
intervene there in any case?
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　　　　　　青木雅彦
　　　　  Masahiko Aoki
      btree@osk.3web.ne.jp
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