"I believe the negotiations will start on March 17 regardless of all the pressure, but we evidently didn't do all that was necessary," Mesic says in the interview granted on the eve of tomorrow's inauguration for a second term of office.
He says he is completely convinced that nobody high-positioned in the government is behind the hiding of the whereabouts of the general wanted by the Hague war crimes tribunal. "The (Hague tribunal's) Prosecutor's Office suspects for other reasons. If somebody harboured a fugitive (from the UN court) in the past, where does it say that they are not doing the same now? That's the whole problem."
Asked what could be done in the next 30 days, Mesic said that "firstly, we must provide evidence that we've done everything to prosecute those who harboured fugitives in the past, and secondly, we must provide evidence that we've done everything to locate General Gotovina if he is in Croatia, or any evidence that he is outside Croatia".
Asked if he was given any new piece of evidence at the latest session of the National Security Council, Mesic said that "I have more and more evidence that Gotovina is not in Croatia," and that if it proved otherwise the public would be notified. He adds that "activities are in full swing" at the moment.
The reporter asked if there was any evidence, obtained in cooperation with foreign intelligence, that Gotovina was not in Croatia. Mesic replied in the negative, saying that cooperation with foreign intelligence had been intensified. He said that some foreign intelligence agencies had cooperated more and some less but that now all were cooperating.
Mesic says the consequences of not joining the EU within the planned deadlines would be big for Croatia because the use of structural funds given to new members upon admission would be prolonged, the economic revival and overall development would be stopped, and Croatia would be deprived of new capital and technology.
The president says the government is doing everything so the negotiations can start and that he will personally lobby for them to start on March 17.
"Given that I am in good relations with many chiefs of state I will personally contact them and try to explain Croatia's views and position... If anyone is a big advocate of European association, Croatia is. I've sent a letter to French President Jacques Chirac. I will go to Brussels in early March and address many (officials)."
Mesic says tomorrow's inauguration can only be used to brief those attending about Croatia's views and urge them to relay those views to their presidents and prime ministers.
The president says there will be no early elections if the EU entry talks are postponed. He adds early elections will be caused if the unemployment issue remains unsolved, if the economy is not activated and privatisation crime prosecuted.
Mesic says that cooperation with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader is fine and that the possibility of dismissing Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic is still open.
Speaking of changes in his office, Mesic says that Budimir Loncar will be his advisor on international relations, Tomislav Jakic on foreign affairs, Vlatko Cvrtila on military issues, and Sinisa Tatalovic on the political system.