Political experts generally agree that Mesic's first year in office was the best in his political career when he made a few decisive moves, not the least of which was to impose an enforced retirement on the 12 generals of the Croatian Army in an attempt to make a clear separation between the military and political leadership.
Politički stručnjaci se načelno slažu kako je Mesićeva prva godina mandata bila i najbolja u njegovoj političkoj karijeri - povukao je nekoliko presudnih poteza, među kojima i prisilno umirovljenje 12 generala Hrvatske vojske u nastojanju da ostvari jasno razdvajanje vojnog od političkog vodstva.