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Washington congratulated Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor "for their strong personal leadership and strategic vision in reaching this agreement," Kelly said in a statement.
"We believe the agreement provides a clear way forward that respects the interests of both parties," he said, adding this is a "classic win-win" solution.
"We appreciate the important role played by the European Commission and the EU Presidency in this process," he said.
"The United States has long supported Euro-Atlantic integration for the region and we believe this deal is a positive signal to all countries in the region," Kelly said.
As part of a compromise to settle a border row between the two former Yugoslav republics, Slovenia said Friday it was ready to end a block on Croatian talks to join the European Union.
Following talks with his Croatian counterpart in Ljubljana, Slovenian Prime Minister Pahor said his government would lift its veto on Croatia's EU membership.
Slovenia has blocked Croatia's negotiations with the EU since December over a border row dating back to 1991, when both countries proclaimed independence from the former Yugoslavia.
Ljubljana had demanded guarantees on access to its territorial waters and refused to open any new negotiation chapters out of the 35 that make up Croatia's membership bid.
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"We believe the agreement provides a clear way forward that respects the interests of both parties," he said, adding this is a "classic win-win" solution.
"We appreciate the important role played by the European Commission and the EU Presidency in this process," he said.
"The United States has long supported Euro-Atlantic integration for the region and we believe this deal is a positive signal to all countries in the region," Kelly said.
As part of a compromise to settle a border row between the two former Yugoslav republics, Slovenia said Friday it was ready to end a block on Croatian talks to join the European Union.
Following talks with his Croatian counterpart in Ljubljana, Slovenian Prime Minister Pahor said his government would lift its veto on Croatia's EU membership.
Slovenia has blocked Croatia's negotiations with the EU since December over a border row dating back to 1991, when both countries proclaimed independence from the former Yugoslavia.
Ljubljana had demanded guarantees on access to its territorial waters and refused to open any new negotiation chapters out of the 35 that make up Croatia's membership bid.
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