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Scoop
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Caledonia, French Polynesia At UN Decolonisation Seminar In Dili
New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013. , Correspondent French Pacific Desk New Caledonia and French Polynesia are sending strong delegations this week to the United Nations (UN) Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in Timor Leste. The seminar is scheduled to be held in Dili from 21 to 23 May. As French Pacific non-self-governing territories, the two Pacific territories will brief the UN on recent developments at the event, which is themed 'Pathways to a sustainable future – advancing socioeconomic and cultural development of the Non-Self-Governing Territories'. New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013. Nouméa-based France's Ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan is also attending. After the Dili meeting this week, the UN's Fourth Commission is holding its formal meeting in New York in July and again in October in the margins of the UN General Assembly. As New Caledonia marks the first anniversary of the civil unrest that killed 14 and caused material damage to the tune of €2.2 billion this month, the French Pacific territory's political parties have been engaged for the past four months in political talks with France to define New Caledonia's political future. However, the talks have not yet managed to produce a consensual way forward between pro-France and pro-independence groups. French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, at the end of the most recent session on 8 May, put on the table a project of 'sovereignty with France' which was met by strong opposition by the pro-France 'Loyalists' (anti-independence) camp. This year again, parties and groups from around the political spectrum are planning to travel to Dili to plead their respective cases. Topping the list is New Caledonia's government President Alcide Ponga, who chairs the pro-France Rassemblement party and came to power in January 2025. Other represented institutions include New Caledonia's customary (traditional) Senate, a kind of Great Council of Chiefs, which also sends participants to ensure the voice of indigenous Kanak people is heard. Over the past two years, pro-France groups have become more aware of the need for them to be more vocal and present at regional and international fora. French Polynesia back on the UN list since 2013 In French Polynesia, the pro-independence ruling Tavini Huiraatira party commemorated the 12th anniversary re-inscription to the UN list of territories to be decolonised on 17 May 2013. This week, Tavini also sends a strong delegation to Timor Leste, which includes Territorial Assembly President Antony Géros. However, the pro-France parties, locally known as 'pro-autonomy', also want to ensure their views are taken into account. One of them is Moerani Frébault, one of French Polynesia's representatives at the French National Assembly. 'Contrary to what the pro-independence people are saying, we're not dominated by the French Republic', he told local media at a news conference at the weekend. Frébault said the pro-autonomy parties now want to invite a UN delegation to French Polynesia 'so they can see for themselves that we have all the tools we need for our development. 'This is the message we want to get across'. Territorial Assembly member Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, from the pro-autonomy Tapura Huiraatira party, is also travelling to Dili. 'The majority of (French) Polynesians is not pro-independence. So when we travel to this kind of seminar, it is because we want to counter those who allege that the whole of (French) Polynesians is sharing this aspiration for independence', she said. On the pro-independence side in Papeete, the official line is that it wants Paris to at least engage in talks with French Polynesia to 'open the subject of decolonisation'. For the same purpose, the Tavini party, in April 2025, officially presented a draft for what could become a 'Constitution of a Federated Republic of Ma'ohi Nui'. The document is sometimes described as drawing inspirations from France and the United States, but is not yet regarded as fully matured. Earlier this month, French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson was in Paris for a series of meetings with several members of the French cabinet, including Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Foreign Affairs minister Yannick Neuder. Valls is currently contemplating visiting French Polynesia early in July 2025. Brotherson came to power in May 2023. Since being elected to the top post, he has stressed that independence, although it remained a longterm goal, was not an immediate priority. He also said many times that he wished for relations with France to evolve, especially on the decolonisation subject. 'I think we should put those ten years of misunderstanding, of denial of dialogue behind us', he said. In October 2023, for the first time since French Polynesia was re-inscribed on the UN list, France made representations at the UN Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee), ending a ten-year empty chair hiatus . But the message delivered by French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Rivière, was unambiguous. He said that French Polynesia 'has no place' on the UN list of non-autonomous territories because 'French Polynesia's history is not the history of New Caledonia'. He also voiced France's wish to have French Polynesia withdrawn from the UN list. The UN list of non-self-governing territories currently includes 17 territories worldwide and six of those are located in the Pacific: American Samoa, Guam, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands and Tokelau.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Caledonia, French Polynesia At UN Decolonisation Seminar In Dili
Article – RNZ New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013. , Correspondent French Pacific Desk New Caledonia and French Polynesia are sending strong delegations this week to the United Nations (UN) Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in Timor Leste. The seminar is scheduled to be held in Dili from 21 to 23 May. As French Pacific non-self-governing territories, the two Pacific territories will brief the UN on recent developments at the event, which is themed 'Pathways to a sustainable future – advancing socioeconomic and cultural development of the Non-Self-Governing Territories'. New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013. Nouméa-based France's Ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan is also attending. After the Dili meeting this week, the UN's Fourth Commission is holding its formal meeting in New York in July and again in October in the margins of the UN General Assembly. As New Caledonia marks the first anniversary of the civil unrest that killed 14 and caused material damage to the tune of €2.2 billion this month, the French Pacific territory's political parties have been engaged for the past four months in political talks with France to define New Caledonia's political future. However, the talks have not yet managed to produce a consensual way forward between pro-France and pro-independence groups. French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, at the end of the most recent session on 8 May, put on the table a project of 'sovereignty with France' which was met by strong opposition by the pro-France 'Loyalists' (anti-independence) camp. This year again, parties and groups from around the political spectrum are planning to travel to Dili to plead their respective cases. Topping the list is New Caledonia's government President Alcide Ponga, who chairs the pro-France Rassemblement party and came to power in January 2025. Other represented institutions include New Caledonia's customary (traditional) Senate, a kind of Great Council of Chiefs, which also sends participants to ensure the voice of indigenous Kanak people is heard. Over the past two years, pro-France groups have become more aware of the need for them to be more vocal and present at regional and international fora. French Polynesia back on the UN list since 2013 In French Polynesia, the pro-independence ruling Tavini Huiraatira party commemorated the 12th anniversary re-inscription to the UN list of territories to be decolonised on 17 May 2013. This week, Tavini also sends a strong delegation to Timor Leste, which includes Territorial Assembly President Antony Géros. However, the pro-France parties, locally known as 'pro-autonomy', also want to ensure their views are taken into account. One of them is Moerani Frébault, one of French Polynesia's representatives at the French National Assembly. 'Contrary to what the pro-independence people are saying, we're not dominated by the French Republic', he told local media at a news conference at the weekend. Frébault said the pro-autonomy parties now want to invite a UN delegation to French Polynesia 'so they can see for themselves that we have all the tools we need for our development. 'This is the message we want to get across'. Territorial Assembly member Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, from the pro-autonomy Tapura Huiraatira party, is also travelling to Dili. 'The majority of (French) Polynesians is not pro-independence. So when we travel to this kind of seminar, it is because we want to counter those who allege that the whole of (French) Polynesians is sharing this aspiration for independence', she said. On the pro-independence side in Papeete, the official line is that it wants Paris to at least engage in talks with French Polynesia to 'open the subject of decolonisation'. For the same purpose, the Tavini party, in April 2025, officially presented a draft for what could become a 'Constitution of a Federated Republic of Ma'ohi Nui'. The document is sometimes described as drawing inspirations from France and the United States, but is not yet regarded as fully matured. Earlier this month, French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson was in Paris for a series of meetings with several members of the French cabinet, including Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Foreign Affairs minister Yannick Neuder. Valls is currently contemplating visiting French Polynesia early in July 2025. Brotherson came to power in May 2023. Since being elected to the top post, he has stressed that independence, although it remained a longterm goal, was not an immediate priority. He also said many times that he wished for relations with France to evolve, especially on the decolonisation subject. 'I think we should put those ten years of misunderstanding, of denial of dialogue behind us', he said. In October 2023, for the first time since French Polynesia was re-inscribed on the UN list, France made representations at the UN Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee), ending a ten-year empty chair hiatus . But the message delivered by French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Rivière, was unambiguous. He said that French Polynesia 'has no place' on the UN list of non-autonomous territories because 'French Polynesia's history is not the history of New Caledonia'. He also voiced France's wish to have French Polynesia withdrawn from the UN list. The UN list of non-self-governing territories currently includes 17 territories worldwide and six of those are located in the Pacific: American Samoa, Guam, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands and Tokelau.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Caledonia, French Polynesia At UN Decolonisation Seminar In Dili
, Correspondent French Pacific Desk New Caledonia and French Polynesia are sending strong delegations this week to the United Nations (UN) Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in Timor Leste. The seminar is scheduled to be held in Dili from 21 to 23 May. As French Pacific non-self-governing territories, the two Pacific territories will brief the UN on recent developments at the event, which is themed "Pathways to a sustainable future - advancing socioeconomic and cultural development of the Non-Self-Governing Territories". New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013. Nouméa-based France's Ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan is also attending. After the Dili meeting this week, the UN's Fourth Commission is holding its formal meeting in New York in July and again in October in the margins of the UN General Assembly. As New Caledonia marks the first anniversary of the civil unrest that killed 14 and caused material damage to the tune of €2.2 billion this month, the French Pacific territory's political parties have been engaged for the past four months in political talks with France to define New Caledonia's political future. However, the talks have not yet managed to produce a consensual way forward between pro-France and pro-independence groups. French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, at the end of the most recent session on 8 May, put on the table a project of "sovereignty with France" which was met by strong opposition by the pro-France "Loyalists" (anti-independence) camp. This year again, parties and groups from around the political spectrum are planning to travel to Dili to plead their respective cases. Topping the list is New Caledonia's government President Alcide Ponga, who chairs the pro-France Rassemblement party and came to power in January 2025. Other represented institutions include New Caledonia's customary (traditional) Senate, a kind of Great Council of Chiefs, which also sends participants to ensure the voice of indigenous Kanak people is heard. Over the past two years, pro-France groups have become more aware of the need for them to be more vocal and present at regional and international fora. French Polynesia back on the UN list since 2013 In French Polynesia, the pro-independence ruling Tavini Huiraatira party commemorated the 12th anniversary re-inscription to the UN list of territories to be decolonised on 17 May 2013. This week, Tavini also sends a strong delegation to Timor Leste, which includes Territorial Assembly President Antony Géros. However, the pro-France parties, locally known as "pro-autonomy", also want to ensure their views are taken into account. One of them is Moerani Frébault, one of French Polynesia's representatives at the French National Assembly. "Contrary to what the pro-independence people are saying, we're not dominated by the French Republic", he told local media at a news conference at the weekend. Frébault said the pro-autonomy parties now want to invite a UN delegation to French Polynesia "so they can see for themselves that we have all the tools we need for our development. "This is the message we want to get across". Territorial Assembly member Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, from the pro-autonomy Tapura Huiraatira party, is also travelling to Dili. "The majority of (French) Polynesians is not pro-independence. So when we travel to this kind of seminar, it is because we want to counter those who allege that the whole of (French) Polynesians is sharing this aspiration for independence", she said. On the pro-independence side in Papeete, the official line is that it wants Paris to at least engage in talks with French Polynesia to "open the subject of decolonisation". For the same purpose, the Tavini party, in April 2025, officially presented a draft for what could become a "Constitution of a Federated Republic of Ma'ohi Nui". The document is sometimes described as drawing inspirations from France and the United States, but is not yet regarded as fully matured. Earlier this month, French Polynesia's President Moetai Brotherson was in Paris for a series of meetings with several members of the French cabinet, including Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Foreign Affairs minister Yannick Neuder. Valls is currently contemplating visiting French Polynesia early in July 2025. Brotherson came to power in May 2023. Since being elected to the top post, he has stressed that independence, although it remained a longterm goal, was not an immediate priority. He also said many times that he wished for relations with France to evolve, especially on the decolonisation subject. "I think we should put those ten years of misunderstanding, of denial of dialogue behind us", he said. In October 2023, for the first time since French Polynesia was re-inscribed on the UN list, France made representations at the UN Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee), ending a ten-year empty chair hiatus . But the message delivered by French ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Rivière, was unambiguous. He said that French Polynesia "has no place" on the UN list of non-autonomous territories because "French Polynesia's history is not the history of New Caledonia". He also voiced France's wish to have French Polynesia withdrawn from the UN list. The UN list of non-self-governing territories currently includes 17 territories worldwide and six of those are located in the Pacific: American Samoa, Guam, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands and Tokelau.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Caledonia's Political Talks: No Outcome After Three Days Of ‘Conclave'
Article – RNZ New Caledonia's political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory's future status. , Correspondent French Pacific Desk After three solid days of talks in retreat mode, New Caledonia's political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory's future status. The talks, held with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Prime Minister's special advisor Eric Thiers, have since Monday moved from Nouméa to a seaside resort in Bourail – West coast of the main island, about 200 kilometres away from the capital – in what has been labelled a 'conclave', a direct reference to this week's meeting of Catholic cardinals in Rome. However, the Bourail conclave is yet to produce any kind of white smoke, and no one, as yet, claims 'Habemus Pactum' to say that an agreement has been reached. Under heavy security, representatives of both pro-France and pro-independence parties are being kept in isolation and are supposed to stay there until a compromise is found to define New Caledonia's political future, and an agreement that would later serve as the basis for a pact designed to replace the Nouméa Accord that was signed in 1998. The talks were supposed to conclude on Wednesday, but it has been confirmed that the discussions were going to last longer, at least one more day, probably well into the night. Valls was initially scheduled to fly back to Paris on Thursday, but it has also been confirmed that he will stay longer. Almost one year after civil unrest broke out in New Caledonia on 13 May 2024, leaving 14 dead and causing €2.2 billion in damages, the talks involve pro-France Les Loyalistes, Le Rassemblement, Calédonie Ensemble and pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), UNI-PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party). Éveil Océanien, a Wallisian-based party, defends a 'neither pro, nor against independence' line, what it calls a 'third way'. The talks, over the past few days, have been described as 'tense but respectful', with some interruptions at times. The most sensitive issues among the numerous topics covered by the talks on New Caledonia's future, are reported to be the question of New Caledonia's future status and its future relationship to France. Other sensitive topics include New Caledonia's future citizenship and the transfer of remaining key powers (defence, law and order, currency, foreign affairs, justice) from Paris to Nouméa. Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia for the third time since February 2025, said he would stay in New Caledonia 'as long as necessary' for an inclusive and comprehensive agreement to be reached. Earlier this week, Valls also likened the current situation as 'walking on a tightrope above embers.' 'The choice is between an agreement and chaos,' he told local media. On both sides of the discussion table, local parties have all stated earlier that bearing in mind their respective demands, they were 'not ready to sign at all costs.' The most hard-line pro-independence views, from FLNKS, are demanding full sovereignty while on the pro-France side, the line is to consider that link as unquestionable, after three referendums were held there between 2018 and 2021. Valls's approach was still trying to reconcile those two very antagonistic views, often described as 'irreconcilable'. 'But the thread is not broken. Only more time is required', local media quoted a close source as saying. Last week, an earlier session of talks in Nouméa had to be interrupted due to severe frictions and disagreement from the pro-France side. Speaking to public broadcaster NC la 1ère on Sunday, Rassemblement leader Virginie Ruffenach elaborated, saying 'there had been profound elements of disagreements on a certain number of words uttered by the Minister (Valls)'. One of the controversial concepts, strongly opposed by the most radical pro-French parties, was a possible transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, as part of a possible agreement. 'In what was advanced, the land of New Caledonia would no longer be a French land', Ruffenach stressed on Sunday, adding this was 'unacceptable' to her camp. She also said the two main pro-France parties were opposed to any notion of 'independence-association'. 'Neither Rassemblement, nor Les Loyalistes will sign for New Caledonia's independence, let this be very clear'. The pro-France camp is advocating for increased powers (including on tax matters) for each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, a solution sometimes regarded by critics as a form of partition of the French Pacific territory. In a media release on Sunday, FLNKS 'reaffirmed its…ultimate goal was Kanaky (New Caledonia's) accession to full sovereignty'. Series of fateful anniversaries On the general public level, a feeling of high expectations, but also wariness, seems to prevail at the news that discussions were still inconclusive. In 1988, the Matignon-Oudinot peace talks between pro-independence leader at the time, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and pro-France leader Jacques Lafleur, were also held, in their final stage, in Paris, behind closed doors, under the close supervision of French Prime Minister, Socialist Michel Rocard. The present crucial talks also coincide with a series of fateful anniversaries in New Caledonia's recent history: on 5 May 1988, French special forces ended a hostage situation and intervened on Ouvéa Island in the Gossana grotto, where a group of hard-line pro-independent militants had kept a group of French gendarmes. The human toll was heavy: 19 Kanak militants and 2 gendarmes were killed. On 4 May 1989, one year after the Matignon-Oudinot peace accords were signed, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and his deputy Yeiwene Yeiwene were gunned down by hard-line pro-independence Kanak Djubelly Wea. Valls attended most of these commemoration ceremonies, at the weekend. On 5 May 1998, the Nouméa Accord, now aged 27, was signed between New Caledonia's parties and then French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. The Nouméa pact, which is often regarded as a de facto Constitution, was placing a particular stress on the notions of 're-balancing' economic wealth, a 'common destiny' for all ethnic communities 'living together' and a gradual transfer of powers from Paris to Nouméa. The Accord also prescribed that if three self-determination referendums (initially scheduled between 2014 and 2018) had produced three rejections (in the form of 'no'), then all political stakeholders were supposed to 'meet and examine the situation thus generated'. The current talks aimed at arriving at a new document, which was destined to replace the ageing Nouméa Accord and bring New Caledonia closer to having its own Constitution. Valls said he was determined to 'finalise New Caledonia's decolonisation' process.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
New Caledonia's Political Talks: No Outcome After Three Days Of ‘Conclave'
Article – RNZ New Caledonia's political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory's future status. , Correspondent French Pacific Desk After three solid days of talks in retreat mode, New Caledonia's political parties have yet to reach an agreement on the French Pacific territory's future status. The talks, held with French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Prime Minister's special advisor Eric Thiers, have since Monday moved from Nouméa to a seaside resort in Bourail – West coast of the main island, about 200 kilometres away from the capital – in what has been labelled a 'conclave', a direct reference to this week's meeting of Catholic cardinals in Rome. However, the Bourail conclave is yet to produce any kind of white smoke, and no one, as yet, claims 'Habemus Pactum' to say that an agreement has been reached. Under heavy security, representatives of both pro-France and pro-independence parties are being kept in isolation and are supposed to stay there until a compromise is found to define New Caledonia's political future, and an agreement that would later serve as the basis for a pact designed to replace the Nouméa Accord that was signed in 1998. The talks were supposed to conclude on Wednesday, but it has been confirmed that the discussions were going to last longer, at least one more day, probably well into the night. Valls was initially scheduled to fly back to Paris on Thursday, but it has also been confirmed that he will stay longer. Almost one year after civil unrest broke out in New Caledonia on 13 May 2024, leaving 14 dead and causing €2.2 billion in damages, the talks involve pro-France Les Loyalistes, Le Rassemblement, Calédonie Ensemble and pro-independence FLNKS (Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front), UNI-PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party). Éveil Océanien, a Wallisian-based party, defends a 'neither pro, nor against independence' line, what it calls a 'third way'. The talks, over the past few days, have been described as 'tense but respectful', with some interruptions at times. The most sensitive issues among the numerous topics covered by the talks on New Caledonia's future, are reported to be the question of New Caledonia's future status and its future relationship to France. Other sensitive topics include New Caledonia's future citizenship and the transfer of remaining key powers (defence, law and order, currency, foreign affairs, justice) from Paris to Nouméa. Valls, who is visiting New Caledonia for the third time since February 2025, said he would stay in New Caledonia 'as long as necessary' for an inclusive and comprehensive agreement to be reached. Earlier this week, Valls also likened the current situation as 'walking on a tightrope above embers.' 'The choice is between an agreement and chaos,' he told local media. On both sides of the discussion table, local parties have all stated earlier that bearing in mind their respective demands, they were 'not ready to sign at all costs.' The most hard-line pro-independence views, from FLNKS, are demanding full sovereignty while on the pro-France side, the line is to consider that link as unquestionable, after three referendums were held there between 2018 and 2021. Valls's approach was still trying to reconcile those two very antagonistic views, often described as 'irreconcilable'. 'But the thread is not broken. Only more time is required', local media quoted a close source as saying. Last week, an earlier session of talks in Nouméa had to be interrupted due to severe frictions and disagreement from the pro-France side. Speaking to public broadcaster NC la 1ère on Sunday, Rassemblement leader Virginie Ruffenach elaborated, saying 'there had been profound elements of disagreements on a certain number of words uttered by the Minister (Valls)'. One of the controversial concepts, strongly opposed by the most radical pro-French parties, was a possible transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, as part of a possible agreement. 'In what was advanced, the land of New Caledonia would no longer be a French land', Ruffenach stressed on Sunday, adding this was 'unacceptable' to her camp. She also said the two main pro-France parties were opposed to any notion of 'independence-association'. 'Neither Rassemblement, nor Les Loyalistes will sign for New Caledonia's independence, let this be very clear'. The pro-France camp is advocating for increased powers (including on tax matters) for each of the three provinces of New Caledonia, a solution sometimes regarded by critics as a form of partition of the French Pacific territory. In a media release on Sunday, FLNKS 'reaffirmed its…ultimate goal was Kanaky (New Caledonia's) accession to full sovereignty'. Series of fateful anniversaries On the general public level, a feeling of high expectations, but also wariness, seems to prevail at the news that discussions were still inconclusive. In 1988, the Matignon-Oudinot peace talks between pro-independence leader at the time, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and pro-France leader Jacques Lafleur, were also held, in their final stage, in Paris, behind closed doors, under the close supervision of French Prime Minister, Socialist Michel Rocard. The present crucial talks also coincide with a series of fateful anniversaries in New Caledonia's recent history: on 5 May 1988, French special forces ended a hostage situation and intervened on Ouvéa Island in the Gossana grotto, where a group of hard-line pro-independent militants had kept a group of French gendarmes. The human toll was heavy: 19 Kanak militants and 2 gendarmes were killed. On 4 May 1989, one year after the Matignon-Oudinot peace accords were signed, Jean-Marie Tjibaou and his deputy Yeiwene Yeiwene were gunned down by hard-line pro-independence Kanak Djubelly Wea. Valls attended most of these commemoration ceremonies, at the weekend. On 5 May 1998, the Nouméa Accord, now aged 27, was signed between New Caledonia's parties and then French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. The Nouméa pact, which is often regarded as a de facto Constitution, was placing a particular stress on the notions of 're-balancing' economic wealth, a 'common destiny' for all ethnic communities 'living together' and a gradual transfer of powers from Paris to Nouméa. The Accord also prescribed that if three self-determination referendums (initially scheduled between 2014 and 2018) had produced three rejections (in the form of 'no'), then all political stakeholders were supposed to 'meet and examine the situation thus generated'. The current talks aimed at arriving at a new document, which was destined to replace the ageing Nouméa Accord and bring New Caledonia closer to having its own Constitution. Valls said he was determined to 'finalise New Caledonia's decolonisation' process.
