THE emergency situation will be lifted tomorrow, Tuesday, in the morning at New Caledoniathe French presidency announced, but the international airport will remain closed until Sunday despite the gradual reduction in tensions.

The lifting of the emergency measures, which have been in force since May 16 in this French South Pacific archipelago, is scheduled for tomorrow at 05:00 in Noumea (local time, 21:00 today Greek time).

As part of the lifting of these measures, “the gatherings of the various components of the FLNKS (the main pro-independence movement) and the visits of elected officials or officials to the roadblocks to request their removal” will be allowed, the presidency explained in announcement he issued.

The international airport of Noumea, which has been closed to commercial flights since May 14, will remain closed at least until Sunday, June 2, announced the company that ensures its operation, despite the reduction in violence.

The road leading to the airport is damaged in several places and burnt cars are still on it, according to local sources.

Hundreds of stranded tourists are being evacuated from Magenta Airport in Noumea.

After the Australians and New Zealanders from Tuesday, the first French tourists who remained trapped were able to depart on Saturday on military planes.

Paris also announced the deployment of an additional 480 police officers, bringing the number of French security forces in New Caledonia to around 3,500.

The pro-independence protests, in which seven people were killed and hundreds arrested, were sparked by a constitutional reform planned by Paris. This will give the right to vote in provincial elections to thousands of French-born inhabitants of the archipelago and thus give them more electoral influence.

The indigenous Kanaks have long hoped for a state of their own and now fear that reform will be at their expense.

In three referendums, in 2018, 2020 and 2021, residents of the former French colony have voted to remain part of France. However, after the last vote, which was boycotted by separatists, talks on a new regime have stalled.