"Croatia did not originate from the NDH (1941-45 Independent State of Croatia) and our youth have to know this, and they will if they are taught so at school," Mesic told the press at a national conference on Croatia's road to a knowledge-based society.
Commenting on Ustasha insignia displayed at recent rallies throughout the country following the arrest of war crimes fugitive Ante Gotovina, Mesic said one should not generalise but added that "we had falsified histories and teachings which clashed with verified things from our history".
Given that many world media aired footage of the Ustasha insignia, the press asked Mesic and Prime Minister Ivo Sanader if the authorities had done everything to present Croatia in the right way.
"The whole time we are doing everything to underline the truth about the Homeland War, we talk about it wherever we go. Nobody needs to remind me of it because when it comes to patriotism, there is no greater patriot than I," said Sanader.
He added he always reiterated that Croatia had been attacked, had been entitled to defend itself and had done so.
"Nobody will revise the history about the Homeland War. We won't allow the revision of that truth or the revision of our recent history," said Sanader.
President Mesic said one must not get carried away by falsified historical facts. "One should put everything in history in its place and turn towards the future".
He urged the media to exploit their freedoms and not depict marginal issues as vital for Croatia.