The French prime minister says the stakes for New Caledonia are considerable, as he visits the territory less than a year out from an independence referendum.
Edouard Philippe arrived in Noumea on Saturday morning for a four-day visit where he will meet the government, as well as various pro- and anti-independence groups.
Speaking to the media, Mr Philippe said he hoped the referendum - the conclusion of a 30 year process involving two accords - goes smoothly.
Pour la première fois à Nouméa. L’avenir de la Nouvelle-Calédonie se prépare aujourd’hui. J’ai conscience de la responsabilité de l’Etat.#PMNouvelleCalédonie pic.twitter.com/YOHpHp9O8L
— Edouard Philippe (@EPhilippePM) December 1, 2017
Mr Philippe will spend the next four days touring New Caledonia, and will also attend a ceremony for the appointment of electoral list ambassadors.
The lists determine who will be able to participate in the referendum, which has proved an extremely sensitive subject in New Caledonia.
He will also participate in a meeting of the working group of the signatory committee of the 1998 Noumea Accord, which will decide the wording of the referendum question.
