“This referendum does not conform to the spirit and letter of the Nouméa Agreement in 1998”, they explained Monday in a statement.
Le Monde with AFP
“Not surprisingly, in the aftermath of the referendum of self-determination won in New Caledonia by the supporters of France, the independentists, who had called not to participate, announced on Monday, December 13 that they did not recognize the” legitimacy “nor the” validity “of the ballot. After the Appeal of the Independents to sulk the ballot, this third and final referendum – provided for by the agreements of Nouméa in 1998 and marked by record abstention – was won by the pro-France with 96.5% of the votes, against 3 , 5% yes to independence.
Independents grouped in the non-participation independence strategic committee (CSI-NP) “do not recognize the legitimacy and validity of the vote that has been confiscated,” they declared in a statement. “The path of dialogue has been broken by the stubbornness of a French government unable to reconcile its geostrategic interests in the Pacific and its obligation to discolonize our country”, do they ensure.
“not compliant”
For the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, Independentist Party, and the Nationalists, “This referendum does not conform to the spirit and the letter of the Nouméa Agreement, a decolonization process, and also in line with the United Nations resolutions, which enrolled New Caledonia on the list of countries to be decolonized “. “The Lecornu Calendar is now Chamboula. The CSI-NP is no longer engaged. The eighteen years announced can not start with a French government at the end of the term”, insist the independence.
The 1998 Nouméa Agreement, which organizes the decolonization of New Caledonia by stages, “comes to its legal term,” Macron recalled after the announcement of the results of the referendum Sunday, while S ‘ Opens a “transition period that releases the binary alternative between yes and no” and “must lead us to build a common project”. By June 30, 2023 a new status will have to be established for New Caledonia, which will in turn be validated by referendum.
“Engage real discussions”
In June in Paris, the Caledonian actors had decided with the State only after December 12 would open “a period of stability and convergence”, to prepare a “project referendum”.
The Minister of Overseas, Sébastien Lecornu, arrived Friday in Noumea. “The presence of the Minister of Overseas at us is more of the presidential campaign that it is carrying solutions for the future. We do not want to engage in this combination and we are waiting for the renewal of the French government to commit true discussions on the country’s accession at its full sovereignty, “add independence in their communiqué.
The Flnks and the nationalists had already warned last week that they wrote any meeting with Mr. Lecornu before the French presidential election in April 2022.