Georgian Justice Minister Rati Bregadze met with US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Wednesday.

According to the Justice Ministry, Rati Bregadze introduced Ambassador Degnan to the Ministry’s priorities. The sides accentuated the aspects of US-Georgia close cooperation.

Kelly Degnan, on her part, remarked on the opportunity to congratulate minister Bregadze on his appointment as a Minister of Justice and hear about his priorities.

The Ambassador stressed the United State has been working with Georgia on developing the country’s judicial system for over 25 years with different programs through the USAID, Department of Justice and Department of State.

Degnan said that many agencies in the United States worked to strengthen Georgia’s criminal justice system, penitentiary system and court system. “The judicial system is absolutely the cornerstone of a strong democracy,” the US Ambassador stated.

She added that Georgia’s partners were pleased to see the political parties negotiate and agree on the judicial reform provisions included in the April 19th Agreement.

“We strongly encourage all of the parties, the ruling party, the opposition parties, to fulfil that April 19th Agreement both in letter and in spirit. The point is to build a stronger, improved independent judicial system here. That is work we can all get behind and is work that is in Georgia’s best interests,” Kelly Degnan stated.