The Foundation is a nongovernmental organisation honouring the Swedish diplomat who saved dozens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Nazis. Its programmes promote social solidarity and civic courage.
The award was first given six years ago and President Mesic is the first head of state to receive it, the Foundation's vice president, Abigail Tenembaum, said at a ceremony in Croatia's Permanent Mission to the UN.
She said the award was given to Mesic this year for his engagement for equality and justice, and for his loyalty to civic courage, human solidarity and fight for justice.
Mesic has always promoted human rights, also in conflict situations in the past two decades, she said.
Mesic was presented with the award by Foundation president Baruch Tenembaum, who highlighted Mesic's personal efforts for establishing the truth about what happened to Wallenberg, who went missing after being captured by the Russians in January 1945.
The Foundation has collected 20,000 signatures in a campaign asking President Vladimir Putin to publish the truth about Wallenberg's fate and establish where his remains are.
The Foundation called on presidents of state, eminent public figures and Nobel prize winners to request the Russian government to publish the circumstances of Wallenberg's imprisonment and death after 60 years.
Mesic was the first president to write to Putin and open dialogue on this issue, Baruch Tenembaum said, adding that the Foundation hoped Mesic's initiative would succeed.
Mesic said this was the most exciting award he received in recent years. "Wallenberg was a great man and his actions deserve to be remembered forever."
Mesic went on to say that he lost many family members in the antifascist struggle. Antifascism and the fight for a society of tolerance and diversity, against every form of discrimination, notably racial, national and religious, and against antisemitism, are the foundations of every free society, he said.
Mesic said he never hesitated about supporting the Foundation's activity, underlining that "we live in a world in which it is once again necessary to fight against evil".
"Wallenberg's name is the flag under which we today must fight for a world of peace, freedom and equality for all," said Mesic.
Tenembaum said he was especially pleased that this year's recipient of the award was President Mesic, and that he was sure that because of his engagement Mesic had the blessings and prayers of all those thousands of people whom Wallenberg saved, as well as of their descendants.
Wallenberg was sent to Hungary in 1944 as a diplomat, but was actually sent by an American organisation which was saving Jews. One of the theories about his disappearance is that the Soviets thought he was an American spy. He saved nearly 100,000 people.
Mesic was congratulated on receiving the award by Croatia's Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, Foreign Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, the rest of the Croatian delegation visiting New York, and representatives of the New York Jewish community.
(Hina) ha