Tahiti and New Caledonia Full Members of PIF

While the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) accepted New Caledonia and French Polynesia to full membership of PIF during its 47th Forum at Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia last week (September 8-10) Prime Minister Charlot Salwai says full membership comes with benefits as well as obligations, and Vanuatu’s support won’t compromise the country’s stand on self determination for New Caledonia and French Polynesia. He says the French Government specifically requested during COP 21 in Paris in December of last year, and the same request was made by the President of New Caledonia for Vanuatu to support New Caledonia to become a full member of PIF. The Prime Minister says on his official trip to New Caledonia, he was asked to support New Caledonia and French Polynesia to become full members of PIF. “Also the French High Commissioner in New Caledonia requested the same favour for the two Associate Members to become full members of PIF and MSG as part of regional integration,” the Prime Minister continues.“Vanuatu supports both Territories since both have their own Governments which are elected by their peoples. Now that they are full members particularly nearby New Caledonia, there are obligations that they are expected to comply with. New Caledonia must now open up. “I told the President of New Caledonia that when you came to Vanuatu, you promised visa-free access to New Caledonia and it has not happened yet. Now you are a full member of PIF, when are you going to comply with your promise? Now you have an obligation and it is not restricted to Vanuatu but to the member countries of the PIF which allow visa free travel to each other’s countries apart from New Zealand and Australia, but on the other hand, they are providing employment opportunities for our people.

Source: spto.org
Full Article: http://spto.org/news/18-news/5590-tahiti-and-new-caledonia-full-members-of-pif