Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melansian Union or UPM
[Edmond NEKIRIAI]; Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist
National Liberation Front or FLNKS [Rock WAMYTAN]; Melanesian moderate
Kanak Socialist Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; National Front
or FN (extreme right) [Guy GEORGE]; Socialist Party of Kanaky or PSK
[Jacques VIOLETTE]; Union Oceanienne or UO (conservative) [Michel
HEMA]; Front de Developpement des Iles Loyautes or FDIL [Cono HAMU];
Union Caledonian or UC [Bernard LEPEU, president]; A New Caledonia for
All or UNCT [Didier LEROUX]; Kanaque Liberation Party or PALIKA [Paul
NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; New Caledonia National Party [Georges
CHATENEY]; Oceanic Democratic Rally or RDO [Alois SAKO]; Kanaque
Federal Party of OPAO [Gabrielle PAITA and Auguste SIAPO]; Caledonian
Generation [Jean-Raymond POSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs
Kanaks Exploites or USTKE [Louis Kotra UREGEY]; Federation for a New
Caledonian Society or FNSC [Jean-Pierre AIFA]; Union to Construct
Independence [Frances POADOUY]; Movement for France or MPF [Claude
SARAAN]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of
5 parties: Union for the Rebirth of Caledonia [Jean-Louis MIR];
Christian Social Democrats-All Ethnic Group Accord [Raymond MURA];
Rally for Caledonia [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Rally of the Republic [Dick
UKEIWE]; Liberal Caledonian Movement [Jean LEQUES]; Union Nationale
pour l'Indepedance or UNI; Developper Ensemble pour construire
l'Avenir or DEPCA; Rassemblement pour une Caledonie dans la France or
RCF
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
@New Caledonia:Economy
Economy-overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and tourism are key to the health of the economy. The outlook for 1998 is clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%