Croatia and Albania, which formally joined the alliance on 1 April, are attending NATO's two-day summit in Baden Baden, Kehl and Strasbourg, as full members for the first time
According to a source close to Croatia's delegation at NATO's 23rd summit, Mesic said that Croatia was bringing into NATO its unique experience it acquired during the Homeland Defence War, the war which he said Croatia did not want but had been imposed on it in early 1990s.
Croatia wishes also to contribute to the alliance's political dimension, he said adding his country would like to contribute to efforts by NATO in its ongoing transition from its form from the Cold War period towards an organisation with instruments for keeping peace in the world.
He was quoted by the source as saying that he found war to be only the very last resort.
Mesic said that he saw NATO as primarily an instrument for preventing the outbreak of wars and conflicts that pose a threat to world peace.
Therefore, the Croatian head of state holds that dialogue and cooperation with NATO nonmembers are important in a bid to dispel any doubt that NATO is a threat to them.
Describing the present-day world as being made up of countries with different cultures and civilisations, Mesic said that one should not think that there might be a unique model acceptable to all countries and nations. He also cautioned against believing that it was possible to impose such a model by military force.
Mesic said that each nation had the right to find and realise its own path to democracy.
On Saturday, during the second day of the summit, heads of state and government of the 28-strong bloc will cross the Passarelle des deux Rives pedestrian bridge over the Rhine connecting Kehl and Strasbourg where they will be welcomed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.