The opposition Republican Party has called on NATO member-states to grant Membership Action Plan (MAP) to Georgia at a Bucharest summit and has urged them to press the Georgian authorities to honor its democratic reform commitments.

“We call on the leaders and governments of the NATO member-states to categorically demand that the Georgian authorities build democratic institutions in the country, provide an independent judiciary, protect human rights and hold free and fair elections,” Davit Usupashvili, the Republican Party leader, said at a press conference on March 31.

Last March Parliament passed a declaration supporting Georgia’s aspirations for NATO membership. The declaration was also supported by the opposition. In addition, last October ten opposition parties signed a joint declaration reaffirming their support for Georgia’s NATO bid.