"This proves the credibility of the Croatian Government and its institutions in the implementation of the Action Plan," the minister said in Brussels where she attended a meeting of NATO's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
The arrest also proves that information provided by relevant Croatian services was true, the minister said.
"We are grateful to all who believed the Croatian government and its credibility, which enabled the launching of Croatia's EU membership talks," Grabar-Kitarovic said.
Asked if Gotovina's arrest would accelerate Croatia's integration with the EU, the minister said Croatia must meet all the membership criteria.
The minister could not say if Croatia had indications about the arrest of General Gotovina and said intelligence services could give information about that.
"I don't believe that today's event discredits anyone, it is the result of cooperation and proof that Croatia was honest and transparent in the process," the minister said when asked if the arrest had discredited the ICTY Prosecutor's Office which claimed that Gotovina was hiding in Croatia.
Asked why the Croatian government failed to express satisfaction with Gotovina's arrest, Grabar-Kitarovic said that everybody was considered innocent until proven guilty, adding that this also applied to Gotovina. The tribunal in The Hague will decide if Gotovina is guilty or not, the minister said.
Asked if the general's arrest would accelerate Croatia's integration with NATO, Grabar-Kitarovic said the process of joining the alliance was more complex and included defence reform.
She said the US delegation attending the meeting of NATO's Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed the news of Gotovina's arrest.