Croatia's foreign minister arrived in Sweden

Croatia's foreign minister arrived in Sweden

Croatia's foreign minister, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, visited Sweden on Wednesday to discuss her country's bid to join the European Union and other Balkan issues.

The independence referendum in Montenegro and negotiations on the future status of Kosovo were also on the agenda for talks between Grabar-Kitarovic and Swedish Cabinet ministers.

Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson and Deputy Prime Minister Bosse Ringholm were to meet the Croatian foreign minister.

The EU opened membership talks with Croatia, a prelude to eventual membership, in October last year after delaying them for months because of Croatia's failure to capture a top war crimes suspect, Ante Gotovina. Gotovina was eventually arrested in Spain on Dec. 7.

Croatia hopes to join the EU by 2009, reports the AP.

I.L.