21 Jun 2004

French Polynesia's President calls for Forum to help in decolonising efforts

7:25 am on 21 June 2004

The newly installed President of French Polynesia, Oscar Temaru, says his Government wants the Pacific Islands Forum to take the lead in helping the territory decolonise.

He says since 1978 they have been trying to enlist the help of agencies around the world, including the Forum, to get back on the United Nations list of non-autonomous nations.

Mr Temaru says the Forum helped New Caledonia onto this list in 1988.

He hopes to be granted Observer status at the Forum meeting in Apia in August:

"..and from there we are trying to get this subject on the agenda, of the next forum meeting , it's not easy I know, I know it."