The late Croatian academic, prominent scientist and peace activist Ivan Supek was the honorary president of the league from 1998 to his death in March 2007.
The current IHL president, Elisabeth Rehn, who used to be the head of the UN mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, previously made a special decision to name Mesic Supek's successor as honorary president.
IHL Secretary-General Zdravko Surlan told today's ceremony in Sarajevo that giving the award to Mesic was Supek's wish.
Josip Vrbosic, IHL Deputy President and a former Croatian ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that the award was bestowed on Mesic for his engagement in ensuring peace and trust in the region and in the world during his 10-year term as Croatia's president.
Surlan spoke about Mesic's opposition to polices of dividing Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The decision on conferring the honour on Mesic was made by the ILH assembly, which convened in Zagreb in 2010.