Grabar-Kitarovic informed O'Connor about Croatia's progress towards NATO and European Union membership, the Croatian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Grabar-Kitarovic said Croatia shared the values and interests of NATO member states and that membership of the alliance was a strategic interest.
She highlighted the continuation of Croatia's full cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal and the progress achieved in refugee return.
She said Croatia expected Canada's support at the upcoming NATO summit in Riga for receiving a clear and strong signal that it would be invited to join the alliance in 2008.
O'Connor said Canada was noting Croatia's progress and saw it as a successful and positive example for the other states in Southeast Europe.
The two ministers commented on the situation in Afghanistan, where Croatia and Canada are participating, within the ISAF mission, in the establishment of peace, security, and social institutions.
O'Connor commended Croatia's contribution to the ISAF mission, saying he was satisfied with Croatia-Canada cooperation in Afghanistan.
Later today, Grabar-Kitarovic is due to give a keynote speech at the 52nd annual NATO Parliamentary Assembly conference in Quebec.