"It was the only decision I could make in the present circumstances. I consistently advocate very clear and very firm views about fascism and all manifestations of neofascism," Mesic said in an interview with the Belgrade daily Blic published on Wednesday.
The gathering of followers of the World War Two pro-Nazi Serbian Chetnik Movement, which took place on the Ravna Gora hills southwest of Belgrade last Sunday, marked the end of celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of victory over fascism in Serbia. It was the first time the Serbian government participated in the organisation of a Chetnik rally.
Mesic recalled that he had unequivocally apologised to "all the victims of those who at any time in history, and particularly during the Second World War, abused the idea of an independent Croatian state as an excuse for discrimination, ill-treatment and killing."
Mesic had extended his apologies to the victims of atrocities committed by the pro-Nazi Ustasha regime in Croatia from 1941 to 1945 at the site of the Ustasha-run Jasenovac concentration camp and in the Israeli Parliament.
"I cannot pretend not to see a celebration of a notoriously collaborationist movement that fought exclusively those who fought against the occupier, and it is happening in our immediate neighbourhood," the Croatian president said.
Commenting on a statement by the Foreign Ministry of Serbia and Montenegro that "historical facts should not be an obstacle to good relations between the two countries, he said that he "fully agreed" with the statement, but that the point at issue in this case were not the historical facts but their falsification.
"Serbia must realise that Croatia is rightfully sensitive to the revival of the Chetnik ideology, just as Serbia is rightfully sensitive if Ustasha symbols are displayed in Croatia," he said.
Mesic said he was "encouraged" by reactions from non-governmental organisations and antifascist war veterans in Serbia, who "spoke out in the name of freedom-loving and democratic Serbia which deserves every respect."
Asked why he had not responded to speeches and Ustasha insignia at Bleiburg, Austria, Mesic said that there was "a substantial difference" between the events at Ravna Gora and Bleiburg.
"At Ravna Gora, the Serbian government directly participated in the rehabilitation of a movement that simply cannot be and should not be rehabilitated. At Bleiburg, Ustasha symbols and iconography unfortunately appear every year. Because of the negative politicisation of Bleiburg, I never went there. But Croatian authorities never tried to declare the Ustashas antifascists," the Croatian president said.
He said that Croatian officials should use their attendance at Bleiburg commemoration ceremonies to "promote the historical truth", but that "this has not always been the case".
In conclusion, Mesic expressed hope that the two countries would continue to maintain normal relations at all levels. "That way we will both contribute to stability and peace in Southeast Europe and reaffirm ourselves as serious candidates for European Union membership."