A former Papua New Guinea prime minister says the Melanesian Spearhead Group must support New Caledonia's pro-independence movement for it to win next year's election.
Sir Michael Somare made the call in Noumea where he is a special guest of the MSG.
He says the MSG has that obligation, as a member, and the FLNKS is entitled to expect nothing less from other MSG members.
Sir Michael says the MSG owes it to the people of Kanaky to remain true to its commitment to defend and promote independence as the inalienable right of indigenous peoples of Melanesia.
In the elections of the past decade, the parties making up the FLNKS as well as the pro-independence Labour Party secured less than 40 percent of the vote.