Merkel Set To Arrive In Croatia For Two-Day Balkan Trip

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is arriving in Croatia on August 22 for the start of a two-day Balkan visit.

She will meet top Croatian leaders today and is set to visit Serbia on August 23.

Officials say the trip will be focused on the region's European Union membership ambitions in light of the bloc's recent debt crisis.

Her Belgrade visit will work toward defusing growing Kosovo tensions ahead of the resumption of EU-mediated talks on September 2.

Croatia is set to join the EU in 2013. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence.

compiled from agency reports