evidence: MP for Tanna Johnny Koanapo told the Vanuatu Daily Post that "President Macron should declare that Matthew and Hunter are an integral part of Vanuatu and therefore should direct that processes are done by the two countries to finalise the delimitation of our maritime boundaries." Umaenupne (Matthew) and Umaeneag (Hunter) are uninhabited volcanic islands located east of New Caledonia and southeast of Vanuatu. Both are disputed territory, claimed by the Republic of Vanuatu and France, the administering colonial power in New Caledonia. Today, legislation in both Vanuatu and New Caledonia claims the two islands as part of each country’s territory, with significant implications for their Exclusive Economic Zone and control of maritime resources. [...] On 4 April 2009, the members of the Sénat coutumier issued a declaration stating: "We recognise through custom the historical fact that Matthew and Hunter islands belong in kastom to the chieftainships of Tanna." Their declaration highlighted the "lasting relations between the Loyalty Islands Province and the Tafea Province … to allow the free movement of people and trade to prosper between the two countries without ulterior motives."