The French Polynesian president, Edouard Fritch, says French Polynesians expect France to change its approach on compensating victims of the French nuclear weapons tests.
French Polynesia President Edouard Fritch and French Social Affairs Minister Nmarisol Touraine Photo: suplied
Mr Fritch made the comment in Paris where he met the French social affairs minister, Marisol Touraine, as part of talks of a committee discussing the follow-up of the tests.
A 2010 French law offers compensation but as most applications have been rejected, there have been moves to amend it.
Mr Fritch now says he believes that Paris will speed up change.
Last year, the French Polynesian assembly passed a resolution calling on France to pay compensation for environmental damage caused by the tests and rent for the continued occupation of the test sites.
Mr Fritch was opposed to the resolution.
The French high commissioner in French Polynesia reacted by casting doubt on the legality of the resolution, saying the assembly's move might have exceeded its competence and amounted to an unfriendly gesture towards France.
He pointed out that the testing ground of Moruroa and Fangataufa had been excised before the tests and were part of France's inalienable domain.
Moruroa Photo: AFP
