NEW CALEDONIA'S accession to a full membership status in the Pacific Islands Forum was top in the agenda of a New Caledonian contingent to the Forum Trade Ministers meeting in Vava'u from May 18-19.

The New Caledonian Minister for Economy, Trade and Environment Land Development and Housing Hon. Anthony Lecren told Matangi Tonga Online on May 19, that during the Forum Trade Ministers Meeting in Vava'u he told Pacific Islands Forum representatives of his government's intention to become a full Forum Member.

He also reminded the meeting of New Caledonia's request for accession to full membership of the Pacific Islands Forum, supported by the Government of France

He said that the respond from some Forum members was very positive. A delegation from the New Caledonia government will attend the Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Auckland in September. "When we will submit our formal request to the PIFL meeting, for accession as full forum members and rekindle the debate. The decision rest on the Forum."

Hon Anthony Lecren said that New Caledonia has a new government that is keen to move forward with the proposal to become a full member of the Forum. "It is very important because of trade and economic integration in the region, also because it is an island part of the Melanesian region that has historical ties with Polynesian countries like Tonga.

"We are part of the Pacific region and that is why we put forward the need to move from being an Associate member to full Forum members so that we can join the geographic region that we belong."

New Caledonia became the first French territory to become an Observer of the Pacific Islands Forum in 1999 and in 2006 became an Associate Member, a membership it holds to date. It is also a long-standing member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community that has its headquarter in its capital Noumea.

During the 2010 PIF Leaders Meeting, New Caledonia formally expressed its interest in becoming a full member in the future.

Regional Integration

Minister Lecren also informed the Meeting that New Caledonia has in the past explored the possibility to take part in negotiations of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement in cooperation with the Forum Secretariat.

New Caledonia wished to reactivate cooperation on this matter, and that New Caledonia wished to quickly progress work to accede to PICTA. He asked for the support of Forum Members in this matter.

The Minister who was accompanied to Tonga by a four-member delegation included Bruno Iekawe, Head of Staff and François Bockel the Head of Regional Cooperation and External Affairs and others, returned to New Caledonia on May 19.

On their last night in Nuku'alofa they were treated to a traditional Tongan dinner and floorshow at the Tonga National Cultural Centre before they caught their flight back to New Caledonia.