Pacific

New Caledonia wants climate talks at Forum

11:41 am on 14 July 2022

New Caledonia is pushing for talks that include climate issues for the 51st Pacific Island Forum.

The territory's president Louis Mapou said talks so far have centred around further economic partnerships to help Vanuatu's growing climate issues.

"I have just come out of bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu and his team where we made the point about our commercial accord which I have to sign at the end of the month in Vanuatu," Mapou said.

"We have also discussed with the Prime Minister of Fiji on the possibility of working on a joint statement of intent.

"I have even mentioned the problem in New Caledonia where we are in need of doctors."

Photo: Facebook

Vanuatu and the New Caledonian government signed in April 2019 a free trade agreement which lifted taxes and duties on 40 products in both countries.

Further talks were carried with the two delegations at the Forum.

New Caledonia's charge d'affaires Mickael Forrest said the delegation would go to Vanuatu to construct a regional integration between the two countries.

"We will go to Vanuatu to materialise the free trade agreement of around 15 products.

"It is an agreement that has gone a long way and that we will keep consulting the different parts of it which include border custom services, fiscal services, and state services to make sure that this deal better integrates both countries."

This is the first time a New Caledonian delegation at the Forum is made up of pro-independence politicians.

Mapou is accompanied by the President of the New Caledonian Congress Roch Wamytan, international affairs representative Mickael Forrest, the member in charge of culture and sport Aloisio Sako and RDO pro-independence party leader Victor Tutugoro.

French Polynesia says Kiribati departure exposes cracks in the Forum

French Polynesia's vice president said Kiribati's exit from the Pacific Island Forum signals discussions is needed about the body's future intentions.

"It is important to discuss as well as respect the sovereignty of these countries. We must absolutely preserve this unity today more than yesterday, we must hold on and fight together otherwise this create failures in the organisation."

Buissou said he will talk to the Forum about environmental protection for French Polynesia's marine area.

"We also wish that our ocean be a sanctuary of marine animals and we have taken measures that show an example to other countries."

French Polynesia has one of the biggest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) in the Pacific of 5 million square kilometres.

The territory has around 70 percent of its EEZ bordering on international waters.