"There is a great chance for the negotiations to start in September, maybe October," Mesic told Croatian Radio.
The president bases his optimism on ICTY Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte's positive assessment of Croatia's cooperation with the ICTY. Mesic said that a more efficient performance by all services searching for the runaway General Ante Gotovina and his helpers contributed to the positive assessment.
"We cannot influence Carla del Ponte's report, but it is symptomatic that she gave the deadline from which one can conclude that (the report) would be positive for Croatia. She praised Croatia saying that its cooperation with the tribunal has improved, that it acted in an organised manner and that if it continues with the same intensity, the country could expect the green light in two to three months," Mesic said.
Asked about the implementation of the action plan aimed at tracing Gotovina and the network of his helpers, Mesic said that Croatia today could claim with more certainty than before that Gotovina was not in Croatia and that all reports showed that.
Asked whether the authorities knew who Gotovina's helpers were, Mesic said that the general's helpers were those who funded his escape. Asked again about the identity of these people, Mesic said that at this point it was difficult to say something more specific, but added that this was about a large amount of money which needed to be looked for in banks on exotic islands - such as the Cayman and Virgin Islands.
Asked whether a seven-digit amount would be offered to Gotovina to surrender, as allegedly being offered to Ratko Mladic, Mesic said that it was wrong to offer somebody money to fulfill their civic duty, because all must be equal before the law.
Asked about his trip to Belgrade scheduled for the end of the month, given that he recently postponed his trip to Serbia and Montenegro over a Chetnik rally in Ravna Gora, Mesic said the he had postponed his visit, not cancelled.
He stressed that the so-called Igman group would meet in Belgrade on June 26 and that he was obliged to attend the meeting.
Mesic also announced he would attend the ceremony of marking the 10th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre on July 11.
Mesic confirmed that the new candidate for Supreme Court president was judge Branko Hrvatin, adding he expected parliament to appoint the candidate.