"I have always said that it is better to negotiate for ten years than wage war for ten days. I am always in favour of settling matters by negotiation. When parties cannot reach an agreement, there are other ways provided under international law. This matter will be dealt with over a long period of time," Mesic told Belgrade newspaper Vecernje Novosti in an interview published on Friday.
Mesic said that Croatia was not protecting fugitive General Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
"We have no reason to protect Gotovina, and I think that Croatia is the last country where he would seek sanctuary. Anyway, we will find Gotovina's whereabouts by March 17. If he is in Croatia, we will certainly arrest him and hand him over, and if he is not, we will have evidence showing where he is," the Croatian president said.