JOSKO MARIC WINS 285TH 'SINJSKA ALKA' TOURNAMENT

SINJ, Aug 6 (Hina) - The winner of the 285th 'Sinjska Alka' tournament is Josko Maric, a 42-year-old Croatian army officer. More than 10,000 people gathered in Sinj in the Split hinterland to watch this year's tournament, which was held under the auspices of Croatian President Stipe Mesic. In a speech to the gathered, President Mesic's envoy, Defence Minister Jozo Rados, said Croatia would take to Europe its 'Sinjska Alka', including the one which took place five years ago, when Croatia was finally liberated. Keeping one's own uniqueness and pride will be Croatia's best contribution to Europe, Rados said. He presented Maric with a personal gift from the President - a gold ring and a sabre, and his attendant Petar Vidalina with a silver ring and a yathagan (long Turkish dagger). Speaking about Croatia's joining the community of European nations, Rados said Croatia was on the right track to Europe. Croatia is aware that that track secures a stable state, peace and order and the welfare of all citizens, he added. He stressed the new Croatian government was doing everything possible for Croatia to become an equal member of the community of European and world nations as soon as possible. The "Sinjska Alka" is a traditional three-day tournament held every year in the Croatian town of Sinj. The tournament, in which lance- wielding horsemen dressed in traditional outfits match their skills as they target a metal ring suspended over a track, is held every year to mark a local victory over the Ottoman Turks in 1715. The "Sinjska Alka" is apparently one of the last remaining, out of many other such rituals throughout the Central Europe. (hina) rml