1 Oct 2012

Samoa's PM says French Polynesians should determine own future

7:59 am on 1 October 2012

Samoa's prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has told the United Nations the people of French Polynesia should have the right to determine their own future.

Tuilaepa had been speaking at the General debate of the 67th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

He said Samoans were given the choice to decide the future of their country, and this year Samoa commemorated its 50th Anniversary of Independence.

But he added that in some parts of the Pacific, people are not yet able to exercise their right of self-determination.

"In the case of French Polynesia, we encourage the Metropolitan power and the Territories leadership, together with the support of the United Nations to find an amicable way to exercise the right of the people of the Territory to determine their future."

Samoa's prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi .