Welcomes the significant developments that have taken place in New Caledonia since the signing of the Nouméa Accord on 5 May 1998 by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France;3
Urgesall the parties involved, in the interest of all the people of New Caledonia, to maintain, in the framework of the Nouméa Accord, their dialogue in a spirit of harmony, and in this context welcomes the unanimous agreement, reached in Paris on 8 December 2008, on the transfer of powers to New Caledonia in 2009 and the conduct of provincial elections in May 2009;
3
Notes the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord aimed at taking more broadly into account the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of New Caledonia, and welcomes, in this context, the adoption on 26 June 2008 by the Government of New Caledonia of a draft country law (loi du pays) on the identity symbols to be adopted by the country in implementation of the Nouméa Accord and the acceptance, on 21 October 2008, of the draft law on the anthem, motto and banknote design;
4
Acknowledges those provisions of the Nouméa Accord relating to control of immigration and protection of local employment, and notes that unemployment remains high among Kanaks and that recruitment of foreign mine workers continues;
5
Notes the concerns expressed by a group of indigenous people in New Caledonia regarding their underrepresentation in the Territory’s governmental and social structures;
6
Also notes the concerns expressed by representatives of indigenous people regarding incessant migratory flows and the impact of mining on the environment;
7
Takes note of the relevant provisions of the Nouméa Accord to the effect that New Caledonia may become a member or associate member of certain international organizations, such as international organizations in the Pacific region, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, according to their regulations;
8
Notes the agreement between the signatories to the Nouméa Accord that the progress made in the emancipation process shall be brought to the attention of the United Nations;
9
Recalls the fact that the administering Power invited to New Caledonia, at the time the new institutions were established, a mission of information which comprised representatives of countries of the Pacific region;
10
Notes the continuing strengthening of ties between New Caledonia and both the European Union and the European Development Fund in such areas as economic and trade cooperation, the environment, climate change and financial services;
11
Calls uponthe administering Power to continue to transmit to the Secretary-General information as required under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations;
12
Invitesall the parties involved to continue promoting a framework for the peaceful progress of the Territory towards an act of self-determination in which all options are open and which would safeguard the rights of all sectors of the population, according to the letter and the spirit of the Nouméa Accord, which is based on the principle that it is for the populations of New Caledonia to choose how to control their destiny;
13
Recalls with satisfaction the efforts of the French authorities to resolve the question of voter registration by adopting, in the French Congress of Parliament, on 19 February 2007, amendments to the French Constitution allowing New Caledonia to restrict eligibility to vote in local polls to those voters registered on the 1998 electoral rolls when the Nouméa Accord was signed, thus ensuring strong representation of the Kanak population;
14
Welcomes all measures taken to strengthen and diversify the New Caledonian economy in all fields, and encourages further such measures in accordance with the spirit of the Matignon and Nouméa Accords;
15
Also welcomes the importance attached by the parties to the Matignon and Nouméa Accords to greater progress in housing, employment, training, education and health care in New Caledonia;
16
Notes the financial assistance rendered by the Government of France to the Territory in areas such as health, education, payment of public-service salaries and funding development schemes;
17
Acknowledges the contribution of the Melanesian Cultural Centre to the protection of the indigenous Kanak culture of New Caledonia;
18
Notes the positive initiatives aimed at protecting the natural environment of New Caledonia, including the “Zonéco” operation designed to map and evaluate marine resources within the economic zone of New Caledonia;
19
Welcomes the cooperation among Australia, France and New Zealand in terms of surveillance of fishing zones, in accordance with the wishes expressed by France during the France-Oceania Summits in July 2003 and June 2006;
20
Acknowledges the close links between New Caledonia and the peoples of the South Pacific and the positive actions being taken by the French and territorial authorities to facilitate the further development of those links, including the development of closer relations with the countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum;
21
Welcomes, in this regard, the participation of New Caledonia at the 39th Summit of the Pacific Islands Forum, held in Niue from 19 to 21 August 2008, following its accession to the Forum as an associate member in October 2006;
22
Also welcomes the continuing high-level visits to New Caledonia by delegations from countries of the Pacific region and high-level visits by delegations from New Caledonia to countries members of the Pacific Islands Forum;
23
Further welcomes the cooperative attitude of other States and Territories in the region towards New Caledonia, its economic and political aspirations and its increasing participation in regional and international affairs;
24
Recalls the endorsement of the report of the Forum Ministerial Committee on New Caledonia by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum at its 36th Summit, held in Papua New Guinea in October 2005, and the continuing role of the Forum Ministerial Committee in monitoring developments in the Territory and encouraging closer regional engagements;
25
Decides to keep under continuous review the process unfolding in New Caledonia as a result of the signing of the Nouméa Accord;
26
Requeststhe Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue the examination of the question of the Non-Self-Governing Territory of New Caledonia and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session.
