French Polynesia's president Edouard Fritch says he understands why France is boycotting the UN debate on the decolonisation of French Polynesia.
The topic is on this week's agenda of the UN's Fourth Committee as it prepares a resolution on the inalienable right of the people of French Polynesia to self-determination which is to go to the General Assembly in December.
The UN reinscribed French Polynesia on the decolonisation list in 2013 in a move France labelled as glaring interference by the UN.
Mr Fritch told Tahiti-infos that was France's problem but he understood that France was not really consulted.
He will speak in New York to highlight the extent of his government's autonomy, which allows him to attend international meetings.
The pro-independence side wants France to negotiate, with their leader Oscar Temaru saying as a UN Security Council member it cannot stay away from the debate.
