Transcript
The anti-independence politicians appeared unhappy with the Paris talks after their key aspirations were dismissed by their political rivals.
But the French overseas minister Annick Giradin gave a positive assessment.
"It was a great moment of dialogue around, of course, the stocktake of the referendum but also to open perspectives and to fix the date for the next provincial elections."
The meeting, which was chaired by the French prime minister Edouard Philippe, confirmed May 12th as the day for the provincial election when a new Congress will be chosen for a five-year term.
That Congress can ask for a fresh referendum within 18 months if a third of its members wants it.
For the leader of the Caledonian Republicans Sonia Backes, there was disappointment that her concerns weren't taken up.
"The pro-independence side has an extremely hard position in never wanting to reopen the electoral roll. So it wasn't possible to have a discussion about the dates and modalities for a re-opening."
Voting rights remain therefore restricted to those who have been in New Caledonia since at least 1998.
Philippe Gomes, who is the leader of the largest anti-independence party Caledonia Together, says a way has to be found to reinvent an exit from the Noumea Accord.
He wants no more referendums while his colleague in the anti-independence camp Thierry Santa considers the Accord as expired come the next election.
"We have not found agreement on the interpretation of the Noumea Accord that we have. The Rassemblement has therefore reaffirmed its position which says the Accord comes to an end with the provincial election in May."
In Mr Santa's view, this means that there will be no second or third referendum.
But for the pro-independence politician Victor Tutugoro, the Noumea Accord provisions with its referendums and roll restrictions remain in place
"The accord is a balanced accord. And we are satisfied with the position of the French government that the accord is not vague and that the accord will continue to be valid during the term which will begin in May 2019."
Another pro-independence leader and signatory of the accord in 1998 Roch Wamytan said after the Paris talks that little time was spent to analyse the momentous fact of the referendum.
"After all that's happened - this was a historic moment for New Caledonia. And for that there are only three hours of discussions and then we talk about the economy? Frankly that is just a manoeuvre to distract."
The positions seem to be entrenched, with the pro-independence side pinning its trust on the French government honouring the terms of the Noumea Accord.
The May election however will redistribute the cards and a new approach could ensue as hinted by the French overseas minister Annick Girardin.
"After the provincial elections we can work on a different vision and why not on a new accord."
There is nothing to suggest that the pro-independence side will abandon its quest for an independent New Caledonia.
But whether this will be channeled into producing a new accord is not clear.
Judging by the rhetoric of this year, the compromise may be some sort of accommodation that creates an independent country associated with France.
