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EU: Georgia hasn't yet made the grade

TBILISI, Georgia, July 10 (UPI) -- Georgia needs to do more to convince the European Union it is serious about a comprehensive democratic system, the EU neighborhood commissioner said.

European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule met in Tbilisi with Georgia President Mikheil Saakashvili to discuss engagement efforts. Georgia wants a closer relationship with the EU and NATO, though each alliance has expressed concern about the government's policies.

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NATO in 2008 agreed to Georgia's accession provided it embraces defense and political reforms.

Fule said he had a "good meeting" with Saakashvili, adding he took note of a general sense of cooperation among Georgian lawmakers.

"In order to make Georgia's transition a genuine success, we still need to see further strengthening of its democratic institutions and deeper efforts to prevent polarization of the society," he said in a statement Tuesday from Tbilisi.

European lawmakers said they were frustrated with Georgia's commitments to democracy and widespread allegations of partisan justice.

Formal association negotiations will conclude during a November meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania.

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