ZAGREB, Dec 12 (Hina) - Recalling the greatness of his spirit, his struggle for individuals' rights and the rights of the nation and his love for Croatia, fellow parliamentary deputies and friends bid farewell to writer and politician
Vlado Gotovac at a commemoration held in the parliament building in Zagreb on Tuesday. Attending the commemoration along with the Gotovac family were also President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan. Gotovac had always advocated freedom of the nation and of the individual, he fervently advocated the right to self-determination and the right of every man to fully and freely realise his individuality. He loved Croatia with the intensity of love at first sight and thought about it like an ancient wiseman, said Sabor speaker Zlatko Tomcic. Vlado's heart was one of the most lively, open and noble human hearts. And as such it cannot stop beating because the meaning of life it
ZAGREB, Dec 12 (Hina) - Recalling the greatness of his spirit, his
struggle for individuals' rights and the rights of the nation and
his love for Croatia, fellow parliamentary deputies and friends bid
farewell to writer and politician Vlado Gotovac at a commemoration
held in the parliament building in Zagreb on Tuesday.
Attending the commemoration along with the Gotovac family were also
President Stjepan Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
Gotovac had always advocated freedom of the nation and of the
individual, he fervently advocated the right to self-determination
and the right of every man to fully and freely realise his
individuality. He loved Croatia with the intensity of love at first
sight and thought about it like an ancient wiseman, said Sabor
speaker Zlatko Tomcic.
Vlado's heart was one of the most lively, open and noble human
hearts. And as such it cannot stop beating because the meaning of
life itself - benevolence and love - cannot cease to exist, Tomcic
said.
Gotovac leaves behind eternal values: honesty, courage, morality
and patriotism - the values he urged others to embrace and himself
lived by.
Vlado Gotovac was an exceptional figure in modern Croatian society,
almost so exceptional that he could be called an institution, said
Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
"Vlado was the best and brightest example of determination not to
capitalise on one's own suffering and injustice done to a man. By
not allowing himself even one thought about revenge he demonstrated
the breadth of his spirit," Racan said.
Gotovac was a true patriot. "A patriot who did not aggressively
demonstrate his patriotism. As in every other thing, he was a
patriot in his own way. He loved his Croatia with his whole being.
Croatia was his passion and solace," said Racan, stressing he was
morally obliged to repeat what he told Gotovac once, "You were right
when some of us weren't."
Actor Vanja Drach recalled Gotovac's defence before a Zagreb court
in 1981, when he was sentenced to prison for the second time.
(hina) rml