ZAGREB, April 6 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Friday bestowed "The Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with the Sash and the Morning Star" decorations on a prominent politician and honorary president of the Croatian
People's Party, Savka Dabcevic Kucar, and on academician Ivan Supek. The same decoration was conferred on an eminent writer, late Miroslav Krleza, whose heir Kresimir Vranesic received the decoration. On December 11 last year, President Mesic bestowed the same decorations on an eminent politician and writer, late Vlado Gotovac, and politician Mika Tripalo. The decorations were today handed to their widows Simona Gotovac and Vinka Tripalo. This is an opportunity to thank the people who deserve credit for democratic processes in Croatia and the fact that we have Croatia today. Today we also remember all those who are not with us and who helped make it possible for us to develop democr
ZAGREB, April 6 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Friday
bestowed "The Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir with the Sash and
the Morning Star" decorations on a prominent politician and
honorary president of the Croatian People's Party, Savka Dabcevic
Kucar, and on academician Ivan Supek.
The same decoration was conferred on an eminent writer, late
Miroslav Krleza, whose heir Kresimir Vranesic received the
decoration. On December 11 last year, President Mesic bestowed the
same decorations on an eminent politician and writer, late Vlado
Gotovac, and politician Mika Tripalo. The decorations were today
handed to their widows Simona Gotovac and Vinka Tripalo.
This is an opportunity to thank the people who deserve credit for
democratic processes in Croatia and the fact that we have Croatia
today. Today we also remember all those who are not with us and who
helped make it possible for us to develop democracy and strengthen
democratic institutions in Croatia and achieve strategic goals,
including European integration. Today, we have a democratic
authority which solves open issues with its neighbours,
understands problems and knows how to find solutions, an authority
elected by the people who chose European standards. We had delays
but we need not mention them now as we are here today to thank those
who made it possible for Croatia to draw closer to Europe, Mesic
said. "That is the only right way and united Europe will eliminate
war as a political means, which is what we have advocated," he
added.
Thanking for the decoration for her exceptional merits in the
political, scientific, cultural and humanitarian fields, Savka
Dabcevic Kucar said she had never cared about the price she would
have to pay nor expected any award for her struggle for an
independent and prosperous Croatia.
Academician Supek said the high decoration was an expression of his
aspirations, which were also advocated by President Mesic,
including Croatia's integration in Europe.
Receiving the decoration on behalf of Miroslav Krleza, his heir
Kresimir Vranesic thanked Mesic for his initiative regarding the
reconstruction of Krleza's residence in Zagreb. He expressed
belief Krleza's work would contribute to Croatia's rapprochement
with Europe.
Mrs. Simona Gotovac said her husband's dream of independent Croatia
had become a reality and expressed hope his dream of a democratic
and just Croatia would become a reality too.
The wife of late Mika Tripalo, Vinka Tripalo, recalled that late
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman had posthumously decorated her
husband but his family had refused the decoration as it believed
that Tripalo and Tudjman were political poles apart. Tripalo wanted
a Croatia of a content majority while late Tudjman jeopardised all
values and institutions of the state for which Tripalo fought, for
the sake of a small part of the Croatian people, Mrs. Tripalo said.
(hina) rml