Clinton is coming for her first visit to Zagreb at the end of her tour of north Africa and the Balkans, including Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania.

The US Secretary of State is scheduled to meet with President Ivo Josipovic, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic, and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Vesna Pusic to discuss Croatia's role as a NATO ally, its accession to the European Union next year, and economic relations between the two countries.

Clinton said in March that Croatia was a leader in Southeast Europe and a full member of the transatlantic community with which the US would cooperate in dealing with global issues.

We strongly support the many reforms Croatia has undertaken to become a full member of the transatlantic community, Clinton said then before meeting with Pusic.

We welcome Croatia's progress on the path to the EU and its leading role in the region, Clinton said at a joint news conference with Pusic before their talks in the State Department.

Pusic was the first senior official of the new Croatian government who had been invited to visit Washington, less then three months after the new coalition government was formed, which was seen as a recognition to Croatia and a confirmation of the importance the US administration attaches to its relations with Zagreb.