The French defence minister will this week tell New Caledonian leaders what kind of cuts are planned to the French military presence in New Caledonia.
The minister, Herve Morin, is to meet the politicians from Noumea and according to its daily newspaper he will confirm that 250 military positions will be abolished from 2010.
France has signalled the cuts in a defence white book which also calls for cuts in French Polynesia.
A New Caledonian member of the French assembly, Pierre Frogier, says the cut will be combined with a small increase in the police force.
