View source for Stjepan Mesić

{{Short description|President of Croatia from 2000 to 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Stjepan Mesić
| image               = Stjepan Mesic (2) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Mesić in 2012
| office              = 2nd [[President of Croatia]]
| primeminister       = [[Ivica Račan]]<br />[[Ivo Sanader]]<br />[[Jadranka Kosor]]
| term_start          = 19 February 2000
| term_end            = 18 February 2010
| predecessor         = [[Franjo Tuđman]]<br />[[Zlatko Tomčić]] {{small|(acting)}}
| successor           = [[Ivo Josipović]]
| office1             = [[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament]]
| president1          = [[Franjo Tuđman]]
| term_start1         = 7 September 1992
| term_end1           = 24 May 1994
| predecessor1        = [[Žarko Domljan]]
| successor1          = [[Nedjeljko Mihanović]]
| office2             = 13th [[President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia]]
| primeminister2      = [[Ante Marković]]
| deputy2             = [[Branko Kostić]]
| term_start2         = 30 June 1991
| term_end2           = 6 December 1991
| predecessor2        = [[Borisav Jović]]<br />[[Sejdo Bajramović]] {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor2          = Position abolished{{sup|a}}
| office3             = [[List of Deputy Heads of State of Yugoslavia|Vice-President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia]]
| president3          = [[Borisav Jović]]
| primeminister3      = [[Ante Marković]]
| term_start3         = 24 August 1990
| term_end3           = 15 May 1991
| predecessor3        = [[Stipe Šuvar]]
| successor3          = [[Branko Kostić]]
| office4             = [[Member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia for SR Croatia|Member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia for the Republic of Croatia]]
| president4          = [[Borisav Jović]] <br />[[Sejdo Bajramović]]<br />Himself
| term_start4         = 24 August 1990
| term_end4           = 6 December 1991
| predecessor4        = [[Stipe Šuvar]]
| successor4          = Position abolished
| office5             = [[Prime Minister of Croatia]]
| president5          = [[Franjo Tuđman]]
| term_start5         = 30 May 1990
| term_end5           = 24 August 1990
| predecessor5        = Antun Milović
| successor5          = [[Josip Manolić]]
| office6             = [[Non-Aligned Movement#Chair|Secretary of the Non-Aligned Movement]]
| term_start6         = 30 June 1991
| term_end6           = 6 December 1991
| predecessor6        = [[Borisav Jović]]
| successor6          = [[Branko Kostić]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1934|12|24|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Orahovica]], [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]<br />{{small|(now [[Croatia]])}}
| party               = [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] {{small|(2000–present)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/232289.html |title=41 7.5.2001 Ustav Republike Hrvatske (pročišćeni tekst) |publisher=Narodne-novine.nn.hr |access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref>
| otherparty          = [[League of Communists of Croatia|SKH]] {{small|(1955–1990)}}<br />[[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]] {{small|(1990–1994)}}<br />[[Croatian Independent Democrats|HND]] {{small|(1994–1997)}}<br />[[Croatian People's Party (1990)|HNS]] {{small|(1997–2000)}}
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Milka Mesić|Milka Dudunić]]|1961|2024|end = died}}
| children            = 2<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.24sata.hr/news/unuka-sara-je-trudna-stjepan-mesic-79-ce-postati-pradjed-339961|title=Unuka Sara je trudna: Stjepan Mesić (79) će postati pradjed |work=24sata |date=7 November 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>
| alma_mater          = [[University of Zagreb]]
| profession          = Lawyer
| signature           = Signature of Stjepan Mesić.png
| footnotes           = <small>'''<sup>a</sup>''' [[Branko Kostić]] assumed the powers and duties of the office as acting president upon Mesić's resignation</small>
}}
'''Stjepan''' "'''Stipe'''" '''Mesić''' ({{IPA|hr|stjêpan stǐːpe měːsit͡ɕ|pron}}; born 24 December 1934) is a [[Croatia|Croatian]] [[lawyer]] and [[politician]] who served as the [[president of Croatia]] from 2000 to 2010. Before serving two five-year terms as president, he was [[Prime Minister of Croatia|prime minister of SR Croatia]] (1990) after the first [[1990 Croatian parliamentary election|multi-party elections]], the last [[president of the Presidency of Yugoslavia]] (1991) and consequently secretary general of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]] (1991), as well as the [[speaker of the Croatian Parliament]] (1992–1994), and mayor of his hometown of [[Orahovica]].

Mesić was a deputy in the Croatian Parliament in the 1960s, and was then absent from politics until 1990 when he joined the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ), and was named President of the Executive Council (Prime Minister) of the Socialist Republic of Croatia (then still a constituent republic of the SFR Yugoslavia) after HDZ won the elections. His cabinet is, despite holding office before Croatia's independence, considered by the [[Government of Croatia]] to have been the first government cabinet of the current Croatian republic. He later resigned from his post and was appointed to serve as the Socialist Republic of Croatia's membership of the [[Presidency of the SFRY|Yugoslav federal presidency]] where he served first as vice president and then in 1991 as the last [[President of Yugoslavia]] before Yugoslavia dissolved.

Following the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]] and [[Independence Day (Croatia)|Croatia's independence]], Mesić served as Speaker of the Croatian Parliament from 1992 to 1994, when he left HDZ. With several other members of parliament, he formed a new party called [[Croatian Independent Democrats]] (HND). In 1997 the majority of HND members, including Mesić, merged into the [[Croatian People's Party (1990)|Croatian People's Party]] (HNS).{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

After [[Franjo Tuđman]] died in December 1999, Mesić won the [[2000 Croatian presidential election|elections]] to become the next president of Croatia in February 2000. He was the last Croatian president to serve under a strong [[semi-presidential system]], which foresaw the president as the most powerful official in the government structure and allowed him to appoint and dismiss the [[Prime Minister of Croatia|Prime Minister]] and his cabinet. This system was abolished in favor of an incomplete [[parliamentary system]], which retained the direct election of the president but greatly reduced his powers in favor of strengthening the office of Prime Minister. He was [[2005 Croatian presidential election|reelected in January 2005]] for a second five-year term. Mesić always topped the polls for the most popular politician in Croatia during his two terms.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Nacional (weekly)]] |url=http://arhiva.nacional.hr/clanak/10805/stjepan-mesic-i-dalje-najpopularniji-politicar |author=Robert Bajruši |title=Stjepan Mesić i dalje najpopularniji političar |language=hr |trans-title=Stjepan Mesić still the most popular politician |date=9 December 2003 |issue=421 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717003846/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/10805/stjepan-mesic-i-dalje-najpopularniji-politicar |archive-date=17 July 2012 |access-date=15 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Najpopularniji Mesić i HDZ, Vladi prosječno trojka |url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/Html/2005/01/12/Clanak.asp?r=tem&c=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050222005637/http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/2005/01/12/Clanak.asp?r=tem&c=3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 February 2005 |access-date=18 November 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20061106/novosti02.asp |title=Dalmacija vjeruje HDZ-u i Mesiću| work=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]] |date=18 March 2007 |access-date=18 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318194926/http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20061106/novosti02.asp |archive-date=18 March 2007 }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Stjepan Mesić, commonly called "Stipe", was born in [[Orahovica]], [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] (modern day [[Croatia]]) to Josip and Magdalena (née Pernar) Mesić. After his mother died in 1936, his older sister Marija was sent to their uncle Tomo Pernar in France, while Stjepan was put in the care of his grandmother Marija until his father was remarried in 1938 to Mileva Jović, an [[Serbs of Croatia|ethnic Serb]] who gave birth to Slavko and Jelica.<ref name=DOBRAT>•DOMOVINSKI OBRAT – politicka biografija Stipe Mesica, IVICA DIKIC; {{ISBN|953-201-406-3}}, [[V.B.Z. d.o.o.|V.B.Z.]], Zagreb, 2004{{Page needed|date=March 2012}}</ref>

His father joined the [[Yugoslav Partisans]] in 1941. The Mesić family spent most of the [[Second World War]] in refuges in Mount [[Papuk]] and Orahovica when it was occasionally liberated. In 1945, the family took refuge from the final fighting of the war in Hungary, along with 10,000 other refugees, and subsequently settled in [[Našice]], where Josip Mesić became the chairman of the District Council. The family soon moved to [[Osijek]], where Stipe graduated from 4-year elementary school and finished two years of 8-year [[gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]].

In 1949, his father was reassigned back to Orahovica, and Stipe continued his education at the gymnasium in [[Požega, Croatia|Požega]]. He graduated in 1955 and, as an exemplary student, was admitted to the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia]]. The same year on 17 March, his father died of cancer.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

Stjepan Mesić continued his studies at the Law Faculty at the [[University of Zagreb]], where he graduated in 1961. That same year, Mesić married Milka Dudunić, of [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/milka-mesic-deset-godina-prve-dame-clanak-6433 |title=Milka Mesić – deset godina prve dame (Milka Mesić – Ten years of the First Lady) |work=[[Večernji list]] |date=1 August 2009 |language=hr |access-date=10 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230143141/http://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/milka-mesic-deset-godina-prve-dame-clanak-6433 |archive-date=30 December 2009}}</ref> and [[Serbs|Serbian]]<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/oQPVoLKm2Yo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130722121108/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQPVoLKm2Yo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQPVoLKm2Yo|title=Stjepan Mesić statement in ''Latinica''|date=1998|language=hr|publisher=[[Croatian Radiotelevision]]|medium=Television production|location=Youtube|access-date=10 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ethnic origin from [[Hrvatska Kostajnica]], with whom he has two daughters. After graduation, he worked as an intern at the municipal court in Orahovica and the public attorney's office at [[Našice]]. He served his compulsory military service in [[Bileća]] and [[Niš]], becoming a reserve officer.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

==Career==
In 1966, Mesić ran as an independent candidate in the election for his municipal council, and defeated two other candidates. In 1967, he became the mayor of Orahovica and a member of the [[Croatian Parliament|Parliament of SR Croatia]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Avery |first1=Laura |title=Newsmakers: Cumulation |date=2005 |publisher=Cengage Gale |isbn=9780787680817 |page=327 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4pydCZZAWrIC&q=stipe+mesic}}</ref>

In 1967, as mayor, Mesić attempted the building of a private factory in the town, the first private factory in [[SFRY|Yugoslavia]]. However, this was personally denounced by Yugoslav president [[Josip Broz Tito]] as an attempt to silently introduce [[capitalism]], which was illegal under the then-existing constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Spektar/tabid/94/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/194634/Default.aspx|title=Svi su bili u zatvorima, osim Josipovića i Milanovića|date=24 November 2012|work=[[Slobodna Dalmacija]]|language=hr|access-date=5 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130032719/http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Spektar/tabid/94/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/194634/Default.aspx|archive-date=30 November 2012}}</ref>

===Croatian spring===
In 1967, when a group of Croatian nationalists published ''[[Declaration on the Status and Name of the Croatian Literary Language]]'', Mesić publicly denounced it as a diversionary attack against the very foundations of Yugoslavia and called for its authors to be prosecuted by law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vjesnik.com/html/2004/11/30/Clanak.asp?r=kom&c=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070927003229/http://www.vjesnik.com/html/2004/11/30/Clanak.asp?r=kom&c=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|title=Mesić ili nedaće kreposti|work=[[Vjesnik]]|date=30 November 2004|last=Grakalić|first=Dubravko|language=hr|access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref>

However, in the 1970s Mesić supported the reformist [[Croatian Spring]] movement which called for Croatian equality within the Yugoslav Federation on economic, political and cultural levels. The government indicted him for "acts of enemy propaganda". The initial trial lasted three days in which 55 witnesses testified, only five against him, but he was sentenced to 20 years in jail on charges that he was a member of a Croatian terrorist group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Crisis Grips Yugoslavia Over Rotation of Leadership |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D7173BF935A25756C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&&scp=8&sq=Mesic&st=cse |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> He appealed and the trial was prolonged, but in 1975 he was incarcerated for one year and served his sentence at the [[Stara Gradiška prison]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hedl |first1=Drago |date=21 February 2010 |title=Sve Mesićeve tajne (8): U zatvoru Stara Gradiška Mesić je tajno pravio vino |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/sve-mesiceve-tajne-8-u-zatvoru-stara-gradiska-mesic-je-tajno-pravio-vino-2226803 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=jutarnji.hr}}</ref>

===Return to politics===
Mesić was elected again in 1990 as a candidate of the [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ) in the first multi-party elections in [[Croatia]] after [[World War II]]. He became the general secretary of HDZ and later the [[Prime Minister of Croatia]]. He served in this post from May to August 1990,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Republika Hrvatska |url=http://hidran.hidra.hr/hidrarad/rh/rh61.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018085623/http://hidran.hidra.hr/hidrarad/rh/rh61.htm |archive-date=2015-10-18 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=hidran.hidra.hr}}</ref> when he resigned to become the vice-president of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (SFRY).{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

[[Presidency of Yugoslavia|Presidents rotated annually]] among the six republics of Yugoslavia. When Mesić's turn came to become president on 15 May 1991, the [[Socialist Republic of Serbia|Serbian]] incumbent Member [[Borisav Jović]] demanded, against all constitutional rules, that an election be held. The members from Serbia and its provinces voted against, and the member from [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro|Montenegro]] abstained, leaving Mesić one vote short of the majority.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D7173BF935A25756C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&&scp=8&sq=Mesic&st=cse|work=The New York Times|title=New Crisis Grips Yugoslavia Over Rotation of Leadership|first=Celestine|last=Bohlen|date=16 May 1991|access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref> Under pressure from the international community after the [[Ten-Day War]] in Slovenia, Mesić was appointed on 1 July 1991.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DA123DF934A35754C0A967958260&sec=&spon=&&scp=10&sq=Mesic&st=cse|work=The New York Times|title=CONFLICT IN YUGOSLAVIA; How Yugoslavs Hold Off Full-Fledged Civil War|first=John|last=Tagliabue|date=7 July 1991|access-date=24 May 2010}}</ref>

As [[President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav President]], Mesić also held the position of Secretary General of the [[Non-Aligned Movement]], superseding Jović. In October 1991, at the height of [[Siege of Dubrovnik]], Mesić and [[Prime Minister of Croatia|Croatian Prime Minister]] [[Franjo Gregurić]] led a relief convoy of forty fishing and tour boats to Dubrovnik.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1991-10-31 |title=Peace Flotilla Due to Dock in Dubrovnik : Yugoslavia: Officials are trying to break the federal navy's monthlong blockade of the Croatian port. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-31-mn-995-story.html |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

Despite being the head of state of the SFRY, Mesić did not attend many sessions of the collective presidency as it was dominated by four members loyal to Serbia. He was also unable to re-assert control as commander-in-chief of the [[Yugoslav People's Army]], as his orders for them to return to barracks were ignored and they acted independently. On 5 December 1991, Mesić declared his post irrelevant and resigned from the Presidency, returning to [[Croatia]]. In a statement to Croatian Parliament, he said: "I think I've accomplished my duty, Yugoslavia no longer exist[s] anymore".<ref>{{cite web |date=13 April 2010 |title=Mesić: Posao sam obavio, Jugoslavije više nema! |trans-title=Mesić: I did the job, Yugoslavia is no more! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w2PMEWh6EM&ab_channel=%D0%94%D1%83%D1%88%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%92%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%9B |website=Youtube}}</ref>

After [[1992 Croatian parliamentary election]], Mesić became the [[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament]]. He served as the Speaker from 7 September 1992 to 24 May 1994.

In April 1994, Mesić left the [[Croatian Democratic Union|HDZ]] and formed a new party with [[Josip Manolić]], the [[Croatian Independent Democrats]] (''Hrvatski Nezavisni Demokrati'', HND).<ref>{{cite book |author1=Europa |title=A Political Chronology of Europe |date=2003 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781135356873 |page=56 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hVNvCz0c_gsC&pg=PA56}}</ref> Mesić stated that this decision was motivated by his disagreement with Croatia's policy in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] at the time, specifically [[Franjo Tuđman]]'s alleged agreement with [[Slobodan Milošević]] in the [[Milošević–Tuđman Karađorđevo meeting]] to carve up Bosnia and Herzegovina between Croatia and Serbia and the subsequent launch of the [[Croat–Bosniak War]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Earlier, in 1992, Mesić visited [[Široki Brijeg]] in order to dismiss [[Stjepan Kljujić]] and install [[Mate Boban]] as the president of [[HDZ BiH]], the party's branch in Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{cite web |title=22 May 2002 Transcript |url=https://ucr.irmct.org/LegalRef/CMSDocStore/Public/English/Transcript/NotIndexable/IT-98-34/TRS835R0000051995.doc |website=ucr.imct.org |publisher=Unified Court Records Database |page=11584 |date=22 May 2002}}</ref> Mesić later described Boban as a radical nationalist and even "crazy".

Mesić criticized the [[Croatian privatization controversy|failed policies of privatization during the war]] and unresolved cases of war profiteering. In 1997 he and a part of the HND membership merged into the liberal [[Croatian People's Party (1990)|Croatian People's Party]] (HNS), where Mesić became an executive vice-president.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/100/01/08/HRT0009.html|title=Životopisi predsjedničkih kandidata|work=hrt.hr|publisher=[[Croatian Radiotelevision]]|language=hr|access-date=6 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018085622/http://www.hrt.hr/arhiv/100/01/08/HRT0009.html|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>

===Presidency of Croatia===
[[File:Stjepan Mesić (2004-02-25) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Mesić in 2004]]
[[File:Mesic May 06.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Mesić during a May 2006 meeting with then-[[US Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] in [[Dubrovnik]]]]
[[File:Stjepan Mesic with Obamas.jpg|thumb|Mesić with [[Michelle Obama|Michelle]] and [[Barack Obama]] in New York City in September 2009.|left]]
[[File:Vladimir Putin 16 April 2002-1.jpg|thumb|Mesić with [[President of Russia]] [[Vladimir Putin]] at the [[Moscow Kremlin|Kremlin]] on 16 April 2002]]
Mesić was elected [[President of the Republic of Croatia]] in the [[2000 Croatian presidential election|2000 election]] after winning the first round and defeating [[Dražen Budiša]] of [[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]] in the second round. Mesić ran as the joint candidate of the [[Croatian People's Party (1990)|HNS]], [[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]], [[Liberal Party (Croatia)|LS]] and [[Istrian Democratic Congress|IDS]]. He received 41% of the vote in the first round and 56% in the second round.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waters |first1=Trevor |date=June 2000 |title=Croatia: Three Elections and a Funeral |url=https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/38633/2000_Jun.pdf |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Conflict Research Centre}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=RAMUSCAK: MESIC 56%, BUDISA 44%; ELECTIONS TO BE REPEATED AT ONE POLLING STATION |url=https://www.hina.hr/vijest/4178825 |website=hina.hr |date=8 February 2000}}</ref>

He heavily criticized former President [[Franjo Tuđman]]'s policies as "nationalistic and authoritarian", lacking a free media and employing bad economics, while Mesić favored a more liberal approach to opening the Croatian economy to foreign investment. In September 2000 Mesić retired seven Croatian active generals who had written two [[Twelve Generals' Letter|open letters to the public]] arguing that the current government administration "is campaigning to criminalize Homeland War and that the Government is accusing and neglecting the Croatian Army".<ref name="IWPR">{{cite news |title=Mesic: Hero or Traitor? |url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/mesic-hero-or-traitor |work=Institute for War and Peace Reporting |date=27 January 2006}}</ref> Mesić held that active duty officers could not write public political letters without approval of their [[Commander-in-Chief]]. Opposition parties condemned this as a dangerous decision that could harm Croatian national security. Mesić later retired four more generals for similar reasons.<ref name="IWPR" />
[[File:Stjepan Mesic Lech Kaczynski.jpg|200px|thumb| President Mesić and First Lady [[Milka Mesić]] with Polish President [[Lech Kaczynski]] and his wife [[Maria Kaczyńska]] at the [[Presidential Palace, Zagreb|Presidential Palace]] in [[Zagreb]] in 2008]]

As president, Mesić was active in foreign policy.<ref name="'ljevak.hr">{{cite web |title=Knjige – Udžbenici – Online knjižara |url=https://www.ljevak.hr/knjige/knjiga-8046 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Knjižara Ljevak}}</ref> Mesić promoted Croatia's ambition to become a member of the [[European Union]] and [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bender |first1=Kristof |last2=Vukic |first2=Snjezana |date=1 February 2012 |title=From renegade to president |url=https://www.esiweb.org/cafe-europe/renegade-president |access-date=2025-12-14 |work=European Stability Initiative}}</ref> He also initiated mutual apologies for possible war crimes with the [[President of Serbia and Montenegro]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-09-10 |title=Presidents apologise over Croatian war |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3095774.stm |access-date=2025-12-14 |language=en-GB}}</ref> After Constitutional amendments in September 2000, he was deprived of most of his roles in domestic policy-making, which instead passed wholly to the [[Croatian Government]] and its [[Prime Minister of Croatia|Premier]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

Mesić testified at the [[International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia]] that implicated the Croatian army in the war in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. The right-wing parts of the Croatian public took issue with this, saying that his testimony contained untrue statements and questioned his motives (he was often branded "traitor"), and noting that much of his testimony occurred before his presidency, as an opposition politician. His denunciation of the assassination of [[Serbia]]n Prime Minister [[Zoran Djindjic]] on 12 March 2003 marked a notable thawing of relations with Serbia, and he attended his funeral in Belgrade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-03-13 |title=Serbian PM assassinated |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/serbian-pm-assassinated.154609 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref>

He opposed the United States' military campaign against [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime without gaining [[United Nations]] approval or mandate beforehand. Immediately following the invasion of Iraq on 20 March 2003, Mesić deplored that by attacking Iraq, the Bush administration had marginalized UN, induced divisions in [[European Union|EU]], damaged relationships with traditional allies, disturbed the foundations of international order and incited a crisis, which could spill over the borders of Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacional.hr/articles/view/21036/3/ |work=[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]] |title=Mesićeva podrška UN-u blokira ulazak Hrvatske u NATO |language=hr |trans-title=Mesić's support to the UN blocks Croatia's NATO accession |author=Eduard Šoštarić |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=30 June 2012 |archive-date=18 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418224342/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/21036/mesiceva-podrska-un-u-blokira-ulazak-hrvatske-u-nato}}</ref>

Mesić improved Croatian foreign relations with [[Libya]] by exchanging visits with the Libyan leader [[Muammar al-Gaddafi]], contrary to the wishes of U.S. and British diplomacy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nacional.hr/en/articles/view/18347/ |publisher=[[Nacional (weekly)]] |title=Following Blair's visit to Libya, Mesić insisting on trade with that country |author=Plamenko Cvitić |date=30 April 2004 |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-date=28 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728162531/http://www.nacional.hr/en/clanak/18347/following-blairs-visit-to-libya-mesic-insisting-on-trade-with-that-country}}</ref>

The first of Mesić's mandate was not marked with historically crucial events like the Tuđman presidency had been, Croatia's public political orientation shifted away from the HDZ, mostly to the benefit of leftist parties. When the government changed hands in late 2003, problems were expected between the leftist President and a Government with rightist members, but Mesić handled the situation gracefully and there were few notable incidents in this regard.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} He served his first 5-year term until February 2005. In the [[2005 Croatian presidential election|2005 election]], Mesić was a candidate supported by eight political parties and won nearly half of the vote, but was denied the absolute majority by a few percent. Mesić faced off with [[Jadranka Kosor]] in the run-off election and won. He served his second 5-year term until 2010 when he was superseded by [[Ivo Josipović]].{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}

On 1 March 2006 the Civic Assembly of [[Podgorica]], [[Montenegro]]'s capital, decided to declare Mesić an honorary citizen. The move was opposed by pro-Serbian parties in Montenegro.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 March 2007 |title=Predsjednik Mesić počasni građanin Podgorice |trans-title=President Mesić honorary citizen of Podgorica |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/arhiva/predsjednik-mesic-pocasni-gradanin-podgorice/3275396/ |access-date=23 September 2019 |publisher=[[Jutarnji list]]}}</ref>

In December 2006, a controversy arose when a video was published showing Mesić during a speech in Australia in the early 1990s, where he said that the Croats "won a victory on April 10th" (when the fascist aligned [[Independent State of Croatia]] was formed) "as well as in 1945" (when the communist anti-fascists prevailed and the [[Croatia in the second Yugoslavia|Socialist Republic of Croatia]] was formed), as well as that Croatia needed to apologize to no one for the [[Jasenovac concentration camp]].<ref>{{cite news | language = hr | url = https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/poslusajte-mesicev-ustaski-govor-koji-je-2006-godine-otkrio-index/874520.aspx | title = Poslušajte Mesićev ustaški govor koji je 2006. godine otkrio Index | publisher = [[Index.hr]] | date = 12 February 2016 | access-date = 9 July 2021}}</ref> Another 1990s-era speech by Mesić sparked controversy on the issue, where he claimed that not all Croats fighting for the Independent State of Croatia were Ustashe supporters and claimed that most were fighting legitimately for Croatian independence.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/I8g4XBs8P-s Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130727191533/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8g4XBs8P-s Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8g4XBs8P-s|title=Stipe Mesic: Croatians were not fascists|publisher=YouTube|date=18 December 2006|access-date=17 January 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> However, in the 2000s Mesić clearly described the [[Persecution of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|persecutions of Serbs]] in [[Independent State of Croatia]] as [[genocide]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mesić: Jasenovac je bio poprište genocida, holokausta i ratnih zločina |url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=315192 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=22 April 2015 |title=Stipe Mesić: Žrtve jasenovačkog genocida zaslužuju počast, uz osudu njihovih mučitelja i krvnika |trans-title=Stipe Mesić: The victims of the Jasenovac genocide deserve tribute, along with condemnation of their tormentors and executioners |url=https://www.tacno.net/novosti/stipe-mesic-zrtve-jasenovackog-genocida-zasluzuju-pocast-uz-osudu-njihovih-mucitelja-i-krvnika/ |publisher=tacno.net}}</ref> In 2017, another recording from 1992 was published, with Mesić talking how Jasenovac wasn't a "death camp", denying the nature of the concentration camp, and other statements considered supportive of the Ustaše.<ref name="Milekic">{{cite web |last1=Milekic |first1=Sven |date=24 January 2017 |title=Croatia Ex-President Shown Downplaying WWII Crimes |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2017/01/24/videos-reveal-croatian-ex-president-shocking-wwii-statements-01-24-2017/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Balkan Insight |publisher=BIRN}}</ref> The same year, Mesić apologized for "the imprudent statement" and relativization of the crimes in Jasenovac.<ref>{{cite web |title=Video: Mesić se izvinio zbog izjave o Jasenovcu |trans-title=Video: Mesić apologized for the statement about Jasenovac |url=http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/video-mesic-se-izvinio-zbog-izjave-o-jasenovcu |access-date=2025-12-14 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera Arabic|Al Jazeera]]}}</ref>

On 21 December 2008, President Mesić compared [[Milorad Dodik|Dodik]]'s policies to those of the late Serbian President [[Slobodan Milošević]] at the beginning of the 1990s. "Just as the world failed to recognize Milošević's policy then, it does not recognize Dodik's policy today," he said. Explaining where such a policy could be headed, he added: "If Dodik manages to merge [[Republika Srpska]] with [[Serbia]], all [[Croats]] concentrated in [[Herzegovina]] will want to join [[Croatia]] in the same manner, leaving a rump [[Bosniaks|Bosniak]] country, surrounded by enemies. If this were to occur, that small country would become the refuge of all the world's terrorists."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&link=161833|title=Balkan rhetoric, but not only rhetoric|newspaper=Today's Zaman|author=Hajrudin Somun|date=21 December 2008|access-date=5 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018085622/http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&link=161833|archive-date=18 October 2015}}</ref>

Mesić has been accused by the [[Croatian Helsinki Committee]] of obstructing the investigation of war crimes committed by the [[Yugoslav Partisans]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vecernji.hr/newsroom/news/croatia/3273452/index.do|title=Čičak: Ubijali su Boljkovac i Manolić, a štiti ih Mesić|archive-date=11 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411025402/http://www.vecernji.hr/newsroom/news/croatia/3273452/index.do|date=11 April 2009|publisher=Večernji}}</ref> The committee also accused Mesić of abusing the commemorations at the Jasenovac concentration camp for political purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HHO: Mesić je zloupotrijebio Jasenovac - Hrvatska - Javno |url=http://www.javno.com/hr-hrvatska/hho--mesic-je-zloupotrijebio-jasenovac_254247 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501230857/http://www.javno.com/hr-hrvatska/hho--mesic-je-zloupotrijebio-jasenovac_254247 |archive-date=2009-05-01 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.javno.com}}</ref>

In 2009, he publicly proposed that all crucifixes be removed from Croatian state offices, provoking a negative reaction from the Catholic Church in Croatia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2009-08-13/5419/Mesic_wants_no_religious_symbols_in_state_offices_ |title=Mesic wants no religious symbols in state offices |access-date=5 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826165020/http://www.croatiantimes.com/news/General_News/2009-08-13/5419/Mesic_wants_no_religious_symbols_in_state_offices_ |archive-date=26 August 2009 }}</ref>

===Lawsuits===
In 2006, Mesić told the Croatian press that Croatian-French lawyer Ivan Jurasinović should visit the psychiatric clinic at [[Vrapče]], after Jurasinović filed charges for Marin Tomulić against Marko Nikolić and others for attempted murder.{{Clarify|pre-text=?|date=September 2011}} Jurasinović subsequently launched a civil suit against Mesić which found the president guilty of using his position to attempt to discredit and slander him. Mesić was ordered to compensate Jurasinović 70,000 [[Croatian kuna|kunas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=tportal.hr - greška |url=http://daily.tportal.hr/article.aspx?aID=4123&kID=1 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130513062824/http://daily.tportal.hr/article.aspx?aID=4123&kID=1 |archive-date=2013-05-13 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=daily.tportal.hr}}</ref> 

In April 2008 Josip Kokić unsuccessfully petitioned the [[Croatian Constitutional Court]] to remove the president's legal immunity, so that he could sue him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poslovni dnevnik - Ustavni sud neće skinuti imunitet Mesiću |url=http://www.poslovni.hr:80/76907.aspx |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080503203007/http://www.poslovni.hr:80/76907.aspx |archive-date=2008-05-03 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.poslovni.hr}}</ref> Ivan Jurasinović launched another appeal to remove the immunity in November 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jurašinović: Tražit ću skidanje imuniteta Mesiću |url=http://www.javno.com/hr/hrvatska/clanak.php?id=201248 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220528032306/http://www.javno.com/hr/hrvatska/clanak.php?id=201248 |archive-date=2022-05-28 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.javno.com}}</ref> In 2008, former Constitutional Court judge Vice Vukojević launched a case against Mesić, alleging that he embezzled money along with Vladimir Sokolić under the guise of purchasing vehicles for the Croatian Army in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Podignuta kaznena prijava protiv Mesića |url=http://metro-portal.hr/podignuta-kaznena-prijava-protiv-mesica/7447 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=metro-portal.hr |language=hr}}</ref> Political scientist and publisher Darko Petričić claimed that Mesić's first campaign in 2000 was funded by the [[Albanian mafia]]. In 2009 Mesić filed a lawsuit for [[defamation]] but it was decided in Petričić's favor on 29 March 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-05 |title=Slobodna Dalmacija - Krnja prozivka Hajduka: Nisu se pojavila braća Sharbini, Lima, James, Maloča, Lendrić, Ozobić... |url=https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/sport/hajduk/krnja-prozivka-hajduka-nisu-se-pojavila-braca-sharbini-lima-james-maloca-lendric-ozobic-169341 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=slobodnadalmacija.hr |language=hr-hr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Noussair |first=Mazraoui |date=2024-09-01 |title=nk88 |url=https://nk88.name/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=nk88.name}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-29 |title=Sudac je oslobodio Petričića: Mesić mora platiti troškove |trans-title=The judge acquitted Petričić: Mesić must pay the costs |url=https://www.24sata.hr/news/sudac-je-oslobodio-petricica-mesic-mora-platiti-troskove-259942 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.24sata.hr |language=hr}}</ref>

In 2015, a court in [[Hämeenlinna]], [[Finland]], sentenced two executives of Finnish company [[Patria (company)|Patria]] – executive vice president for Croatia Heiki Hulkonen and representative for Croatia Reiji Niittynen – for bribing Croatian officials in making a €112&nbsp;million contract with Croatian company [[Đuro Đaković (company)|Đuro Đaković]]. Each received a suspended sentence of eight years, eight months in prison and a €300,000 fine. Director of sales, Tuomas Korpi, was acquitted.<ref name="HRT">{{cite news |date=16 February 2015 |title=Finci presudili u slučaju Patria: Mesić i Jerković primili mito |trans-title=Finns ruled in the Patria case: Mesić and Jerković received bribes |url=http://vijesti.hrt.hr/finci-presudili-u-slucaju-patria-mesic-i-jerkovic-primili-mito |access-date=17 February 2015 |publisher=Hrvatska Radiotelevizija |language=hr}}</ref> According to the charge, Patria's managers gained €1.6&nbsp;million through Hans Wolfgang Riedl and Walter Wolf as mediators, and used this money to bribe Croatia's president Mesić and director of the Đuro Đaković company Bartol Jerković.<ref name="HRT" />

=== Political activities after the end of the presidential mandate ===
Former Croatian President Mesić, together with former President of [[Montenegro]] [[Filip Vujanović|Vujanovic]], former President of [[Slovenia]] [[Danilo Türk|Turk]], former President of [[Albania]] [[Alfred Moisiu|Moisiu]], former President of [[Serbia]] [[Nataša Mićić|Micic]] and other politicians from the region, founded the "[[Podgorica club|Podgorica Club]]" in [[Podgorica]], Montenegro at the beginning of 2019.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Jadranka Kosor, Türk, Vujanović... za istim stolom u Podgorici: Osnovali klub |trans-title=Jadranka Kosor, Türk, Vujanović... at the same table in Podgorica: They founded a club |url=https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/bivsi-predsjednici-i-premijeri-zemalja-regije-formirali-podgoricki-klub-20190201 |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=tportal.hr}}</ref> The Podgorica club is a political initiative of former presidents and prime ministers from the region.<ref name=":0" />

Former President Mesić also participated, together with former presidents and prime ministers from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], at the Inaugural Conference of the [[International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace]] in September 2017 in [[Pristina]], [[Kosovo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace |url=https://docslib.org/doc/827600/the-international-association-of-parliamentarians-for-peace |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Docslib}}</ref>

==Awards==

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! colspan=2 | Award or decoration !! Country !! Date 
|-
| [[File:Order of the Star of Romania - Ribbon bar.svg|80px]] || Grand Cross with Chain of the [[Order of the Star of Romania]] || {{flag|Romania}} || June 2000<ref>{{cite web | url = https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/22688 | title = DECRET nr. 217 din 2 iunie 2000 | language = ro | access-date = 6 August 2022 }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:AUT Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria - 1st Class BAR.png|80px]] || Grand Star of the [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]] || {{flag|Austria}} || 2001<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf | title = Anfragebeantwortung |trans-title=Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour | language = de | page=1446| access-date = 9 April 2017 }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:ITA OMRI 2001 GC-GCord BAR.svg|80px]] ||Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] || {{flag|Italy}} || 5 October 2001
|-
| [[File:SVK Rad Bieleho Dvojkriza 1 triedy BAR.svg|80px]] || Grand Cross of 1st class of the [[Order of the White Double Cross]] || {{flag|Slovakia}} || 2001<ref>Slovak republic website, State honours : 1st Class in 2001 (click on "Holders of the Order of the 1st Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table)
</ref>
|-
| [[File:UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg|80px]] || Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of St. Michael and St. George]] || {{flag|United Kingdom}} || December 2001<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.royal.uk/archive/200112?page=1|title=The Court Circular – December 2001|publisher=The Royal Household|access-date=12 April 2021|date=December 2001|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Order Dostik 1kl rib.png|80px]] || Grand Cross of 1st class of the [[Order of Friendship (Kazakhstan)|Order of Friendship]] || {{flag|Kazakhstan}} || 15 April 2002<ref>{{cite web |title=Указ Президента Республики Казахстан от 15 апреля 2002 С. Месича |trans-title=Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated April 15, 2002 S. Mesic |url=https://online.zakon.kz/Document/?doc_id=1030629 |access-date=31 July 2022 |language=ru}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civ) 1class Collar BAR.svg|80px]] || Grand Cross with Chain of the [[Hungarian Order of Merit|Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]] || {{flag|Hungary}} || 2002<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://docplayer.hu/30197331-A-m-a-g-y-a-r-k-o-z-t-a-r-s-a-s-a-g-h-i-v-a-t-a-l-o-s-l-a-p-j-a.html| title=Magyar Köztársaság hivatalos lapja |page=2524 | journal=Magyar Közlöny | language=hu |date=28 March 2002|access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:MY Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (Crown of the Realm) - DMN.svg|80px]] || Honorary Recipient of the [[Order of the Crown of the Realm]] || {{flag|Malaysia}} || 2002<ref>{{cite web |title=Senarai Penuh Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Persekutuan Tahun 2002. |url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/v8/images/stories/2002.pdf |access-date=2025-12-14}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:MLT National Order of Merit BAR.svg|80px]] || Honorary Companion of Honour of the [[National Order of Merit (Malta)|National Order of Merit]] || {{flag|Malta}} || 26 October 2006<ref>{{Cite web|title=President assures Croatia of support for EU bid|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/president-assures-croatia-of-support-for-eu-bid.37241|date=2006-10-27|access-date=2022-08-06|website=Times of Malta|language=en-gb}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise 1st 2nd and 3rd Class of Ukraine.png|80px]] || First Class of the [[Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise]] || {{flag|Ukraine}} || 24 May 2007<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/4662007-5940 |title=Указ Президента Украины от 24 мая 2007 года № 466/2007 «О награждении С. Месича орденом князя Ярослава Мудрого» |access-date=2021-09-12 |archive-date=2021-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912104919/https://www.president.gov.ua/documents/4662007-5940  |language=uk }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:RUS Medal 60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 ribbon.svg|60px|center]] || [[Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"]] || {{flag|Russia}} || 9 May 2005<ref>{{cite news |title=Mετάλλιο της Νίκης στον Πρόεδρο |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/greek/domesticnews/story/2005/05/printable/050509_papoulias_moskow.shtml |access-date=19 August 2025 |work=www.bbc.co.uk |agency=BBC Greek |date=9 May 2005 |language=el}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:RUS Medal of Pushkin ribbon.svg|60px|center]] || [[Medal of Pushkin]] || {{flag|Russia}} || 31 October 2007<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kremlin.ru/acts/bank/26385 |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 31 октября 2007 года N1440 О награждении медалью Пушкина |access-date=2018-12-24 |archive-date=2019-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402180923/http://www.kremlin.ru/acts/bank/26385 |language=ru }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:LVA Order of the Three Stars - Commander BAR.svg|80px]] || Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the [[Order of the Three Stars]]|| {{flag|Latvia}} || 2008
|-
| [[File:MD Orden of Republicl Rib.png|80px]] || [[Order of the Republic (Moldova)|Order of the Republic]]|| {{flag|Moldova}} || 23 December 2008<ref>{{Cite web |title=MOLDOVAN PRESIDENT DECREE NO. 2018 of 23-12-2008 on awarding His Excellency Mr. Stepjan MESIC with the Order "Ordinul Republicii", |url=https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=51344&lang=ru |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241130134946/https://www.legis.md/cautare/getResults?doc_id=51344&lang=ru |archive-date=2024-11-30 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.legis.md |language=ru}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:MCO Order of Saint-Charles - Grand Cross BAR.svg|80px]] ||  Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint-Charles]] || {{flag|Monaco}} || 16 April 2009<ref>Nomination by Sovereign Ordinance n°2164 of 16 April 2009 (French)</ref>
|-
| [[File:FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.svg|80px]] ||  Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the White Rose of Finland]] || {{flag|Finland}} || 2011<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ritarikunnat.fi/ritarikunnat/palkitut/suomen-valkoisen-ruusun-ritarikunnan-suurristin-ketjuineen-ulkomaalaiset-saajat/ | title=Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunnan suurristin ketjuineen ulkomaalaiset saajat – Ritarikunnat | date=9 October 2020 }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:ALB National Flag Order.png|80px]] || [[National Flag Order]] || {{flag|Albania}} || 2018<ref>{{cite web |title="Dekorata e Flamurit", Meta nderon ish-presidentin Stjepan Mesiç |url=https://www.balkanweb.com/dekorata-e-flamurit-meta-nderon-ish-presidentin-stjepan-mesic/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |publisher=Balkanweb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Order_of_the_Knights_of_Rizal_Ribbon.png|80px]] || Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Knights of Rizal]] || {{flag|Philippines}} || 17 February 2024<ref>{{cite web |date=2024-02-17 |title=Mesić dobio važno priznanje za mir, održao dirljiv govor: 'Ratovi nemaju pobjednika' |trans-title=Mesić received an important recognition for peace, held a touching speech: 'Wars have no winners' |url=https://www.nacional.hr/mesic-dobio-vazno-priznanje-za-mir-odrzao-dirljiv-govor-ratovi-nemaju-pobjednika/ |publisher=Nacional.hr |language=hr}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Croatian===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! colspan=2 | Award or decoration !! Country !! Date 
|-
| [[File:Ribbon of an order of king Tomislav.png|80px]] || [[Grand Order of King Tomislav]] || {{flag|Croatia}} || 11 July 2005
|}

==Honors==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! colspan=2 | Honor !! Country !! Date 
|-
| [[File:Podgorica Coat of Arms.png|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Podgorica]] || {{flag|Montenegro}} || 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2007&mm=03&dd=01&nav_category=167&nav_id=234649 |title=Mesić – počasni građanin Podgorice |website=B92.net |date=2007-03-01 |access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:CoA Trogir.png|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Trogir]]  || {{flag|Croatia}} || 2009<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-11-14 |title=Trogir: Stjepan Mesić za posjeta Trogiru postao njegov počasni građanin |trans-title=Trogir: Stjepan Mesić became its honorary citizen during his visit to Trogir |url=https://www.pixsell.hr/agencija/pxl-standard-news/trogir-stjepan-mesic-posjeta-trogiru-postao-njegov-pocasni-gradanin-galerija-55387/ |access-date=2016-02-15 |website=Pixsell.hr}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Grb Istarske županije.svg|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Istria County|Istria]] || {{flag|Croatia}} || 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slobodnadalmacija.hr/Hrvatska/tabid/66/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/43419/Default.aspx |title=Slobodna Dalmacija > Prijava |website=Slobodnadalmacija.hr |date=9 March 2009 |access-date=2016-02-15}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Bihać.png|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Bihać]] || {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} || 2009<ref>{{cite web |title=Stjepan Mesić postao počasni građanin Bihaća |trans-title=Stjepan Mesić became an honorary citizen of Bihać |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/svijet/stjepan-mesic-postao-pocasni-gradjanin-bihaca-862632 |access-date=2016-02-15 |website=Vecernji.hr}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Prishtina-Stema.PNG|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Pristina]] || {{flag|Kosovo}} || 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kosovapress.com/?cid=1%2C1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130127080858/http://kosovapress.com/?cid=1%2C1|url-status=dead|title=Ballina – Agjencia e Pavarur e Lajmeve – Kosova Press – Lajmet e fund…|date=27 January 2013|archive-date=27 January 2013|website=archive.is}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Zastava Opatije.svg|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Opatija]] || {{flag|Croatia}} || 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opatija.hr/files/file/odluke%20i%20akti%20GV-a/Nagrade-Grada-za-web.pdf |title=Nagrada Grada Opatije |access-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209000211/http://www.opatija.hr/files/file/odluke%20i%20akti%20GV-a/Nagrade-Grada-za-web.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2015 }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Tetovo Municipality, Macedonia.svg|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Tetovo]] || {{flag|Macedonia}} || 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sitel.com.mk/mesikj-proglasen-za-pochesen-gragjanin-na-tetovo |title=Месиќ прогласен за почесен граѓанин на Тетово |access-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109051134/http://www.sitel.com.mk/mesikj-proglasen-za-pochesen-gragjanin-na-tetovo |archive-date=9 November 2012 }}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Coat of arms of Albania.svg|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Shengjin]] || {{flag|Albania}} || 2013<ref>{{Cite web |title=Received a copy of the key of the city of Tirana |url=http://www.tirana.gov.al/Celesi_qytetit/Stipe-Mesic.jpg |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120406064806/http://www.tirana.gov.al/Celesi_qytetit/Stipe-Mesic.jpg |archive-date=2012-04-06 |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=www.tirana.gov.al}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Wappen Tirana.svg|40px]] || Honorary Citizen of [[Tirana]] || {{flag|Albania}} || 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvklan.al/lajmi.php?id=25479 |title=TV Klan |publisher=Tvklan.al |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513010329/http://www.tvklan.al/lajmi.php?id=25479 |archive-date=13 May 2013}}</ref>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Croatia|Politics}}
* [[Cabinet of Stjepan Mesić]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stjepan Mesić}}
{{Wikiquote}}
<!-- EXTERNAL LINKS BEGIN -->
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050131090557/http://www.predsjednik.hr/default.asp?ru=101&sid=&akcija=&jezik=2 Stjepan Mesić – biography]
<!-- EXTERNAL LINKS END -->

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Antun Milanović]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of Croatia]]|years=1990}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Josip Manolić]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Sejdo Bajramović]]|as=acting president}}
{{s-ttl|title={{0}}[[President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia]]{{0}}|years=1991}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Branko Kostić]]|as=acting president}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Žarko Domljan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament]]|years=1992–1994}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Nedjeljko Mihanović]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Zlatko Tomčić]]|as=acting president}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Croatia]]|years=2000–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ivo Josipović]]}}
|-
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sejdo Bajramović]]}}
{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Non-Aligned Movement#Chair|Secretary General of Non-Aligned Movement]]}}|years=1991}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Branko Kostić]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{Yugoslav Head of State}}
{{Croatian President}}
{{Croatian Prime Minister}}
{{Parliamentary Speakers of Croatia}}
{{NAMSecretary-General}}
{{Yugoslav wars}}
{{Presidency of SFRY (1989-1991)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mesic, Stjepan}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Orahovica]]
[[Category:Croatian lawyers]]
[[Category:Presidents of Croatia]]
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[[Category:Speakers of the Croatian Parliament]]
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[[Category:League of Communists of Croatia politicians]]
[[Category:Croatian Democratic Union politicians]]
[[Category:Croatian Independent Democrats politicians]]
[[Category:Croatian People's Party – Liberal Democrats politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Star of Romania]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint-Charles]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria]]
[[Category:Secretaries-general of the Non-Aligned Movement]]
[[Category:Croatian independence activists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class]]