Mesic received representatives of 20 associations from all over Croatia on the occasion of International Day of Disabled Persons, which is marked today.
Asked by the press to comment on figures indicating that 1,367 veterans had committed suicide so far, the president said this was problem of the "wider community, the family, personal circumstances, as well as of society as a whole".
Mesic was also asked to comment on a letter war veterans from Dubrovnik sent yesterday to the authorities, the Catholic Church and others, in which they say, among other things, that the Homeland War is being belittled and that transcripts from the President's Office are being traded.
The president said he had not received the letter yet, adding that he had never belittled the war or anyone's part in it.
"I always start from the fact that our fighters defended Croatia, but there were also those who jumped on the bandwagon because of certain privileges, which is why institutions have to eliminate those who are detrimental to the real veterans."
Mesic said the families of veterans who were killed or went missing should have everything Croatia could offer because their contribution to the defence of Croatia was the biggest, and reiterated he was against the fake veterans.
He told representatives of the disabled that the state did not have sufficient means to meet every requirement the disabled had and was therefore forced to set priorities. He said, among other things, that the disabled should be enabled to get jobs.
Mesic once again advocated activating the economy and opening free zones in order to encourage foreign investment. He said Croatia must focus on production.