Edouard Fritch Photo: RNZI Walter Zweifel
The French Polynesian President Edouard Fritch has made an eleventh hour appeal to Pacific Forum island leaders for full membership of the regional body.
He was speaking in Port Moresby on the eve of the Forum leaders' leaders session which is due to discuss the issue.
French Polynesia is an associate member of the Forum and its bid for membership is being considered by the group.
Mr Fritch says as a man of the Pacific he is deeply linked to the region's values and the French territory always acted in solidarity with its Pacific neighbours as the islands share the same DNA.
He said it was time for full membership after the territory's ten years' listening and learning as an observer and associate at the Forum.
He says Niue and Tokelau have thrown their support behind the bid.
