To become a member of NATO and the EU, Georgia needs to have a strong and independent judiciary, - US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan told reporters when commenting on the appointment of Supreme Court judges.

According to her, it is now in the hands of the Parliament to pause the process of appointment of judges while they conduct inclusive consultations.

“The United States and Georgia’s international friends are here to support Georgia’s efforts to join NATO and to join the EU. To become a member of NATO and the EU, Georgia needs to have a strong and independent judiciary. We have been working with Georgia very well to help Georgia build a strong and independent judiciary. That's why we were so glad to see Georgia’s political leaders negotiating and achieving an agreement on the judicial reform in the April 19 agreement. I had the opportunity to discuss this with the Speaker and the Chairman of the Georgian Dream party this morning.

Again, I think there's a very good roadmap in the April 19 agreement. The April 19 agreement was a pledge by the ruling party and the opposition leaders to ambitious juridical reform through a broad and inclusive multi-party process. That has not happened yet.

Something as important as appointing Supreme Court judges should happen after there has been a broad, inclusive multi-party discussion. The High Council of Justice has put nominations forward. It is now in the hands of the Parliament to pause this process while they conduct inclusive consultations”, said the Ambassador.