Addressing about a hundred citizens, members of parties supporting his candidacy and his supporters, Mesic said he was always glad to visit Zadar, a city where he said investments were made in intellectual capital.
"Instead of being known for that, Zadar has come under the spotlight because three or four men are challenging democratic standards," Mesic said.
Stating that one should not burden oneself with the motives of people from World War II, Mesic added: "Zadar would not be part of Croatia if there had not been antifascist struggle".
Commenting on the case of General Ante Gotovina, who is wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal, Mesic said that the former Croatian Democratic Union government had denied Gotovina the right to talk with ICTY investigators. "When the general said that he recognised the Hague tribunal, I tried to make it possible for him to be interviewed, but there was lack of flexibility. I still believe that I was right," Mesic said.
Speaking about the Druzba Adria oil transport project, Mesic said that 150 experts had drawn up a study on the effects of the project on the environment and that one should open a public debate on the issue and call a referendum if necessary.
Mesic criticised HDZ presidential candidate Jadranka Kosor for opposing the project. It was the HDZ-led government which in 1999 decided to join the project, as did the new government of Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in May this year, he said.
The election rally was peaceful, but when Mesic mentioned in his speech the first Croatian president, the late Franjo Tudjman, and his "tailoring of the government", somebody in the crowd shouted: "He was like God compared to you!", which prompted members of security to remove the protester. Another citizen also shouted disapproving remarks and was removed from the rally.
After the rally, Mesic visited a local senior citizens home.