The United States strongly supports Croatia's aspiration to complete its EU entry talks in the near future, the office of US Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement on Tuesday, after Biden met with Croatian President Ivo Josipovic in Washington earlier in the day.
"The Vice President commended President Josipovic for Croatia's progress on domestic reforms, especially in strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption.
"The U.S. is confident that these reforms are irreversible, and strongly supports Croatia's aspiration to conclude its European Union accession negotiations in the near future," the statement said.
Biden said that Croatia's progress towards further European integration would send a positive message to the rest of the region of the value of undertaking reforms and supporting reconciliation.
The Vice President also expressed U.S. appreciation for Croatia's important work as a NATO ally, including its contributions to the International Security Assistance Force, where its military and police are helping train Afghan forces, and playing a leading role at the Afghan Military Police Academy in Kabul.
The two leaders also discussed the political situation in southeast Europe. The Vice President praised President Josipovic's leadership in healing wounds and building bridges in that region, the statement from Biden's office said.
