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Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Chair and Tongan Prime Minister Huakavameliku Siosi Sovalenei is still waiting for Paris to approve the PIF mission Travel to New Caledonia.
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron said French ambassador to the Pacific, Veronique Roger Lacan, The authorization letter has not been signed yet A high-level delegation from the Pacific Islands Forum will visit the French territory.
The Pacific Islands Forum hopes to send a Forum Ministerial Committee consisting of leaders from the “three countries” (Cook Islands, Fiji and Tonga) and the Solomon Islands to participate in the visit.
“I have not received any communication from Paris regarding the date of our visit to New Caledonia. It is very important for Radio Pacific to visit New Caledonia before the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting,” Huakahuameliku told RNZ Pacific on Monday.
Huacavalliku said New Caledonia was a member of the Forum, so the Pacific family wanted to see how it could help.
“That way we can get better information and have talks with all parties,” he said.
Nearly three months ago, peaceful protests against controversial constitutional amendments spiraled out of control and led to full-blown civil unrest in the French Pacific territory.
Japan sent an official letter to Macron two weeks ago following talks with Macron’s representatives during the Japan Pacific Leaders’ Meeting (PALM).
The Forum Chairperson requested approval for the four Pacific Prime Ministers to visit New Caledonia by the last week of August 2024.
But Roger Larcan said hosting Pacific leaders while New Caledonia is in a state of crisis would pose a security risk given the current political situation.
Baron Waqa, Secretary General of the Forum In July, it was stated The PIF does care about what is happening in New Caledonia”.
Source: RNZ
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