"That's nonsense. The first time I heard about (the charges) was after Sanader's statement on the news," Mesic said on the national television's primetime newscast on Friday.
Sanader's refusal to co-sign the decision on Podbevsek's dismissal has created a stalemate. "There's always a way out," Mesic said, adding "the problem will be solved after we've presented our arguments".
The president said "nobody needs to make a fuss" because "I exerted my constitutional power". "Nobody complains when I find out from the newspapers that Croatia has signed a cooperation memorandum with a foreign power."
He said he was willing to hold talks with Sanader in order to resolve this situation.
Speaking of Podbevsek's dismissal, which was initiated by the case of reporter Helena Puljiz, Mesic said it was not only a question of the law, but of the functioning of the POA as well. He added that if such an agency interrogated a citizen there must be a record of it. "That's our whole dispute."
Asked if the POA had a record of Puljiz's interrogation, Mesic answered in the negative. He said he wanted to show that such a thing could not happen in a mature democracy.
Mesic went on to say that the POA report on the Puljiz case did not state who ordered that she be interrogated. "Those were all verbal orders even though the rules demand that the order be in writing. There's no such thing, not one piece of evidence."
"Instead of tracing the millions that were taken out of Croatia, perhaps to finance the escape of General Ante Gotovina (who is wanted by the Hague war crimes tribunal), (POA) is wasting time on interviewing citizens for five and a half hours."
Asked if he had a clue as to why Puljiz was interrogated, Mesic answered in the negative. "I have absolutely no idea why three high ranked POA employees would interview a reporter who told them right away that she had never met Hrvoje Petrac (a businessman wanted by the police) and that she had never met Zeljko Bagic privately."
Asked why he had not informed Sanader that he would fire the POA chief, Mesic said he did send a letter explaining his reasons. "I have to show those working in intelligence that they have to respect procedure and the law, because there's no democracy without procedure."
Mesic said he had talked to Podbevsek on two occasions but that the latter did nothing, which he added the prime minister knew. "We have to put an end to this scandal which is damaging Croatia. Every possible institution is meddling now, instead of us saying 'This is where we draw the line, Croatia enforces its laws and there's no need for this to cross Croatian borders'."
He added this damaged "the citizen, who is helpless".
Mesic also pointed to the beginning of "a practice of politicising the army... the police... services. Croatia doesn't deserve this". "While I'm the president there will be no politicisation."