"I have always advocated keeping the tournament going, not only for the sake of the present generation, but for the generations to come, and I will see to it that the tournament is placed under UNESCO's protection," Mesic said after visiting the exhibition with his wife Milka.
He also noted that the tournament had been unnecessarily politicised.
Asked if he would attend this year's tournament in Sinj, Mesic said that he had not been invited yet, but that he would attend if the policy of the tournament was changed to what it used to be.
Asked whether an invitation would suffice or if he expected a public apology after he was booed at at one of the past tournaments, Mesic said he preferred action to words.
The exhibition will be open throughout July, and in August it will move to the southern town of Sinj, where the tournament is held.