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"More things unite than divide Slovenia and Croatia. I hope that in the weeks and months ahead we will resolve all outstanding issues," she said in a statement ran by POP TV late on Monday.

This includes Ljubljanska banka bank deposits, although "this is an issue than I would not single out at this point," she said, hopeful that the two countries can put history behind them and "embark on a future of open relations."

Grabar Kitarović also said she was looking forward to the first meeting with Slovenia's Borut Pahor and other senior Slovenian representatives.

She said she has always had "very good relations" with him, even when it came to talks about open issues, and also good personal relations. "Personal friendships are important for political dialogue."

After Grabar Kitarović was elected many pundits in Slovenia wondered whether he will forge the kind of ties with her that he had with his Croatian counterpart Jadranka Kosor in his prime minister years.

Pahor has already congratulated Grabar Kitarović in a phone conversation and he was invited to the 18 January inauguration ceremony, according to his office.