Speaking to the press, she ruled out the possibility of holding the referendum on January 7, the final deadline under an existing parliamentary decision, or over the Christmas and New Year's holidays, saying they were not the right time for any political campaign.

Pusic had already announced that the parliamentary decision would be changed. Under the decision, the referendum is to be held within 30 days of the signing of the Accession Treaty, by January 7. She said this was too brief a time to inform citizens about the treaty.

Speaking after meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker, the likely new foreign minister in the centre-left government said she expected in January an agreement on the appointment of new ambassadors, who have not been appointed because of a dispute between outgoing Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic and President Ivo Josipovic.

Pusic said she and Reeker talked about future Croatia-US cooperation and Croatia's role in the region, notably the transfer of its experience to the neighbours in their Euro-Atlantic integration.

Asked about the possibility of withdrawing the genocide suit against Serbia, she reiterated the suit would not be dropped if Zagreb and Belgrade were unable to solve outstanding issues by agreement.

"The point of the whole procedure isn't symbolic but practical, to solve the issues of the missing, the plundered property and the war crimes accusations," she said.

"If those three issues can be solved by agreement between the two countries, then it is possible to put the mutual withdrawal of the suits on the agenda."

Asked if she was invited to today's reception by outgoing Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and if it was a coincidence that it was taking place when President Josipovic was giving Zoran Milanovic the mandate to form a new government, Pusic said she did not check if she received an invitation but that she "wouldn't hold it against" Kosor. "That's a farewell reception and we are not saying goodbye."