Mesic Resigns Presidency, Says Yugoslavia No Longer Exists

Declaring his job irrelevant because Yugoslavia no longer exists, Croatia’s Stipe Mesic resigned Thursday as president of the disintegrating Balkan federation.

The gesture was mostly symbolic, since Mesic exercised little influence in the collective presidency, which has been paralyzed by the same political, ethnic and religious strains that have broken up Yugoslavia and plunged its people into a deadly war.

“I think I’ve accomplished my duty--and Yugoslavia does not exist any more,” Mesic said in a statement to the Croatian Parliament.

His brief tenure as head of the eight-man federal presidency was marred by the civil war pitting forces in his native Croatia against those of the Yugoslav army and Serbian irregulars.

Controversy also marked his election, with the four presidency members loyal to Serbia blocking his inauguration for six weeks, then vetoing all attempts to rein in the renegade federal army.

In an interview in the Croatian capital of Zagreb after his resignation, Mesic said he decided it was absurd to continue in the post because his orders as commander in chief of the armed forces were being ignored.

“I feel as if a stone has fallen from my heart,” Mesic said, professing relief at his departure from a lame-duck position.

Yet he argued that both taking the job in early July--and now leaving it--helped Croatia in moving toward independence.

“I had to say in the name of Yugoslavia that there is no Yugoslavia,” Mesic said.

He blamed Yugoslav Defense Minister Veljko Kadijevic and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic for the bloody fratricide racking Yugoslavia, saying the pair plotted to bring war to Croatia.

“Now it’s Yugoslavia’s problem. Tomorrow it’s Europe’s problem,” Mesic said, warning that the war would spread if left unchecked by foreign mediators. “Then it will be the world’s problem.”

Times staff writer Williams reported from Belgrade and Times special correspondent Kirka reported from Zagreb, Croatia.