Marovic said he was confident that the government of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, which enjoys the support of the Serb minority in Croatia, would be ready to resolve the issue of Serbs displaced by the 1991-1995 war, one of the outstanding issues between the two neighbouring countries.
He said that the forthcoming visit of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica to Croatia would be an opportunity to discuss the refugee issue.
Marovic went on to say that the Croatian minority in Montenegro had "a very respectable status", as had the Montenegrin minority in Croatia, and that Serbia and Croatia should follow that example in building their relations with regard to minority rights.
Speaking of the final status of Kosovo, Marovic said that both Belgrade and Pristina should avoid unilateral steps and should sacrifice something to "Europeanise" Kosovo in order to make it "multiethnic and democratic".
Marovic said he would be back in Croatia on 13 December for "a regular return visit" as part of intense meetings with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic.