The scenario of the exercise for today was response to a disastrous earthquake in the industrial seaport of Gazenica, a fire on a nearby ship, and a rail accident in the nearby town of Bibinje.
Speaking to reporters, Mesic said that he was impressed with what he had seen, adding that the Croatian teams participating in the exercise had shown they could hold their own with their colleagues from NATO member countries.
Mesic said that such exercises were necessary in order to train people for possible real emergencies.
Speaking of certain non-governmental organisations that were opposed to NATO exercises, the president said he did not know how could anyone be against training people involved in civil rescue operations.
"My objection to them is they don't understand this. When we were the victim of brutal aggression, we were not prepared to respond," he said.
Asked about the cost of the exercise, Mesic said: "It doesn't cost much, and its benefit is much greater. Besides, we keep the equipment."
Asked how much NATO membership would cost Croatia, Mesic said that the equipping of the Croatian armed forces would cost three times as much as it would if Croatia joined the alliance. If it were not to join NATO, Croatia would have to purchase 50 military aircraft, and 15 would be enough if it were a member, he added.
Speaking of purchases of modern equipment for the armed forces, Mesic said that Croatia would purchase helicopters from Russia based on a debt clearance agreement, but added that it was not known when they would be delivered because they were yet to be manufactured.
Mesic said he was in favour of off-set arrangements in arms procurement, explaining that such contracts would also provide for manufacturing in Croatia, which would be beneficial to the national economy, and that such arrangements ruled out procurement-related corruption and crime.
Asked if he would respond to an invitation to visit Cuba, Mesic said he did not know yet, adding that it would depend on state interests. He recalled that he had attended a Non-Aligned meeting in Cuba last year to promote the Croatian economy.
In this context, the president mentioned the Croatian tourist industry, which he said was primarily focused on Austria, Germany, Italy and similar markets "while no one thinks about 100 million rich Chinese or 100 million rich Indians who should also be brought to Croatia."