CRO DEPUTY MINISTER VISITS LEXICOGRAPHY INSTITUTE IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Apr 26 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Premier Ljerka Mintas-Hodak on Monday visited the Miroslav Krleza Lexicography Institute in Zagreb, where she was acquainted with the situation at this Croatian institution of special state interest in science and culture. The visit was held ahead of the impending presentation of the first volume of the Croatian Encyclopaedia, the 50th anniversary of the institute's work, and the 500th anniversary of lexicographic activity in Croatia. Mintas-Hodak assessed the visit as successful. "I think the Institute is working on several valuable editions important for Croatia's culture and Croatia's identity," she said. "Over 50 years, this institution acquainted the Croatian public with a great part of the cultural heritage and cultural values," she added. Head of the institute Dalibor Brozovic was also satisfied with the visit. "This is an institution which is of outstanding importance in the life of the Croatian people and Croatian culture", he said. The first volume of the Croatian Encyclopaedia will be presented at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb on May 5, Brozovic said. "We believe that to be the crowning achievement of a long-standing work of a large number of collaborators," he said. Brozovic added May 4 was proclaimed Croatian Lexicography Day by Croatian governor Ivan Subasic. The best lexicographic work is on that occasion presented with the Mate Ujevic award. Ujevic established the Croatian Lexicography Institute in 1950, in association with one of Croatia's greatest writers, Miroslav Krleza. Speaking about the 500th anniversary of lexicography in Croatia, Brozovic said it was a special one, given that Croats are a small people who have produced numerous top-quality lexicographic works. The first man who mentioned the word encyclopaedia was Zagreb resident Pavao Skalic, Brozovic concluded. (hina) ha