Mesic met Prefect Ivan Jakovcic and mayors and municipal heads from the northern Adriatic peninsula.
He said Istria was Europe-oriented because it respected all of its institutions, dialogue and tolerance. He added it was not strange that the idea to set up the Adriatic Euro-Region had come from Istria and that Pula would be its seat.
"Of all Croatian counties, Istria has made the biggest step forward in connecting with Europe and this is why it is closest to European standards," Mesic told the press after the meeting at which he endorsed all Istrian projects, notably the establishment of a university in Pula.
Asked if the Adriatic Euro-Region would help settle the Croatian-Slovene border dispute, Mesic said it would certainly not have a negative effect.
He reiterated that if the dispute could not be settled bilaterally, it should be put to an international judicial body.