法國稱亞塞拜然特赦法國公民有助改善雙邊關係

約翰・艾里希報導By John Irish

聯合國，9月23日（路透社）——法國週三對亞塞拜然特赦法國公民馬丁・萊恩表示歡迎，稱這是一項人道姿態，將為改善雙邊關係鋪路。就在數小時前，歐盟才解除對兩名俄羅斯寡頭的制裁。UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - France on Wednesday welcomed Azerbaijan's pardon of French citizen Martin Ryan as a humanitarian gesture that would pave the way for improved relations, just hours after the European Union lifted sanctions on two Russian oligarchs.

法國先前以國家安全疑慮為由，推動將俄羅斯裔烏茲別克金屬業大亨阿利舍爾・尤斯馬諾夫（Alisher Usmanov）自歐盟制裁名單中移除，令其他歐盟成員國震驚。外交官表示，法國的要求與被拘押在亞塞拜然的法國公民獲釋有關。France shocked other EU members when it pushed for Russian-Uzbek metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov to be removed from EU sanctions, citing national security concerns. Diplomats said France's request was linked to the release of French nationals held in Azerbaijan.

法國外交部發言人帕斯卡爾・孔法夫勒（Pascal Confavreux）在聲明中表示，萊恩獲得特赦，是「與亞塞拜然當局進行耐心且嚴謹對話」的結果；「我們打算延續這項對話，而這也標誌著我們兩國關係正常化向前邁出一步」。Ryan's pardon was the result of "a patient and rigorous dialogue with the Azerbaijani authorities, a dialogue we intend to continue and which marks a step toward the normalisation of our relations," foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said in a statement.

萊恩是在亞塞拜然遭拘押的兩名法國公民之一，巴庫當局以間諜罪判處他有罪。外交消息人士表示，法國對外情報機構負責人赴亞塞拜然接他返國後，他已於週三上午啟程返回巴黎。Ryan, one of two French nationals held in Azerbaijan, was sentenced by Baku for espionage. Diplomatic sources said he was on his way back to Paris on Wednesday morning after the head of France's external intelligence agency had travelled to Azerbaijan to bring him back.

知情人士表示，法國外交部長巴霍（Jean-Noel Barrot）週三在紐約會晤亞塞拜然外長。France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot met his Azeri counterpart in New York on Wednesday, sources aware of the matter said.

目前尚不清楚另一名法國公民是否也會在稍後獲釋。這名商人因行賄罪被判處12年徒刑。It was unclear whether the second French national, a businessman sentenced to 12 years for bribery, would also be released at a later stage.

歐盟週二在經過一週爭論後，解除對尤斯馬諾夫及另一名俄羅斯寡頭的制裁。The EU on Tuesday lifted sanctions on Usmanov and a second Russian oligarch after a week of wrangling.

法國官員週三試圖淡化這項決定的影響，同時承認它可能已開下一個令人尷尬的先例。French officials on Wednesday sought to minimise the effects of the decision, while conceding that it may have created an awkward precedent.

亞塞拜然與法國之間的關係長期緊張，並在2023年進一步惡化。當年亞塞拜然重新掌控納戈爾諾－卡拉巴赫地區，引發12萬名亞美尼亞裔居民出走。Ties between Azerbaijan and France have long been strained, and worsened in 2023 when Azerbaijan regained control of ⁠the Nagorno-Karabakh region in a move that triggered an exodus of 120,000 ethnic Armenians.

法國隨後對亞美尼亞提供軍事支持，引發巴庫當局憤怒反應。過去三十年間，亞塞拜然曾與亞美尼亞爆發兩場戰爭。Baku reacted angrily to subsequent French military support for Armenia, with which Azerbaijan has fought two wars in the past three decades.

法國指控與亞塞拜然有關的團體在過去一年發動假訊息行動，並表示巴庫一直試圖煽動法國太平洋島嶼新喀里多尼亞的暴動與獨立訴求。France has accused Azerbaijan-linked groups of carrying out disinformation campaigns over the last year, ⁠and said Baku has been seeking to fan the flames of riots and independence demands in France's Pacific island of New Caledonia.

（約翰・艾里希報導；Kevin Liffey、Rosalba O'Brien編輯）(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Rosalba O'Brien)