New Caledonia's political leadership is invited to Paris next month to discuss where to next after the victory of the anti-independence camp in last Sunday's referendum.
A start was made in Noumea on Monday when the French prime minister arrived just one hour after the official result was proclaimed.
Complex issues need to be tackled as Walter Zweifel reports.
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Professor Mathias Chauchat of the University of New Caledonia Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Walter Zweifel