Speaking in his first interview with the national television network HTV after winning last Sunday's presidential election runoff, Mesic responded to questions about his relations with the defence minister and the prime minister, the election campaign, the electoral law, forthcoming local elections, and the first moves he would make in his second term.
Asked if he would request the resignation of Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic, the president said he wanted facts to be established in connection with a memorandum on cooperation between the armed forces of Croatia and the United States, which had been signed without his knowledge, and in connection with the import of equipment for the Croatian army.
Commenting on speculation that Chief of Staff General Josip Lucic should resign over the case, Mesic said he could not see any reason why Lucic should do so, stressing that Lucic had nothing to do with this.
Earlier this month Mesic expressed his doubts about the legality of purchase of Iveco trucks for the Croatian army, but Roncevic said that the purchase was legal and that he would demand that Lucic be called to account for misinforming the president.
Asked if he had an agreement with the parties that backed him and funded his election campaign to support them in the upcoming local elections, Mesic said there was no such agreement.
Speaking of his future cohabitation with Sanader, Mesic said that they had the same strategic goals. "But there have been statements which I cannot accept, and we must get over that bit through cooperation."
Asked if he would sign a document appointing the resigning Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul as ambassador to the United Nations, Mesic said that it would not be a good idea. "This proposal has not come in. I do not think it would be the best thing to do since there have been scandals that will also be brought up in the future."
Mesic reiterated that in his second five-year term in office he would focus on the economy and economic diplomacy in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry and the government, and on ensuring that Croatia fully cooperated with the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
At the end of the interview Mesic was asked whom he saw as his successor in 2010. He said that that person would have to be aware that Europe must get united and that it was the task of this generation. Asked if Sanader was that person, Mesic said that the future president would have to have "that kind of profile".