New Caledonia is to celebrate June 26th as a public holiday from this year to mark the political reconciliation achieved 20 years ago.
This was announed by the territorial government and the French high commissoner, Yves Dassonville.
In 1988, the Matignon Accords were signed in Paris to end years of instability and tension between anti-independence supporters and pro-independence Kanaks.
In 1998, the understanding was renewed as the Noumea accord which provides for a gradual and irreversible transfer of power from France to New Caledonia, with a referendum on independence to be held before 2018.
