Zakharova: France must ensure rights of New Caledonian population

The agreement on the future status of New Caledonia should be evaluated, and France must ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the archipelago's indigenous population, Maria Zakharova, Spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated at a briefing, Report informs.

"It is clear that the agreement on future status announced in Paris on July 12 is a forced reaction of the metropolis to the deepening crisis in the archipelago, which has caused wide international resonance. In the spring of 2024, mass riots took place in New Caledonia, caused by the essentially colonial and unsuccessful policy pursued by the French authorities toward this overseas territory," the spokesperson noted.

According to her, the disturbing situation in New Caledonia is the result of the incomplete decolonization process of the 20th century.

"Paris presents the agreement on the future status of New Caledonia as an important compromise that supposedly gives more autonomy to the archipelago and expands the rights of its residents. In our opinion, it is too early to give such an assessment to the indicated agreements, as all interested parties have yet to approve them," Zakharova noted.