"If Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina vote in Croatian elections they become a minority in Bosnia-Herzegovina and we mustn't allow that," Mesic was quoted as saying in the Mostar-based Dnevni List daily of Thursday.
Mesic said he would advocate that Croatian companies open branches in Bosnia and create new jobs. He added that economic development was the only way for Bosnian Croats and Bosnia-Herzegovina to survive.
Asked if media attacks on Herzegovina over irregularities during the Bosnian voting in Croatia's recent presidential election would strain his relations with Bosnian Croats, Mesic answered in the negative, although he conceded that some had spread stories to that effect and misinterpreted his statements.