The weekly said that the European Union had postponed membership talks with Croatia after the tribunal's chief prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, argued that Gotovina was "within the reach of the Croatian authorities", but has not been turned in almost four years after he was indicted.
"We have to convince our friends in the EU that we are doing everything we can to find out where the fugitive general is," Mesic told Time. "The only thing I care about is how to start the talks as soon as possible," he added.
Time noted that this may not be what other Croats care most about. "Two years ago, two-thirds of Croatians supported joining the EU; less than half do so today, according to polls. Brussels' decision to wait put the centre-right government of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in a tight spot."
"Zagreb has overhauled hundreds of laws to prepare for EU entry, and has surrendered eight indicted war criminals to the tribunal, braving the protests of many Croatians who deny that Croatian forces committed any crimes during the 1991-1995 war against Serbia," the weekly said.
Time said that Gotovina was charged with command responsibility for war crimes, but that to many Croats he was a national hero. It cited fears that Brussels' ultimatum might push Croatia still further away from the EU.