TUDJMAN, STATE DELEGATION PAY LAST RESPECTS TO BUSIC

ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, accompanied by a state delegation, on Friday paid his last respects to the Croatian patriot and martyr Bruno Ante Busic, whose remains are lying in state at the Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences' National House in Zagreb. This was the first honorary guard, which, apart from President Tudjman, also included Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic, Parliament Vice-President Vladimir Seks, Premier Zlatko Matesa, Vice-Premier Ljerka Mintas Hodak, House of Counties' Vice President Ivan Aralica, presidential advisor Ivic Pasalic, Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Zagreb City Assembly president Zlatko Canjuga, and Croatian Information Service (HIS) director Miroslav Tudjman. After the ceremony, President Tudjman wrote in the book of condolence: "As representatives of the Croatian state and political leadership we pay our last respects to the great Croatian patriot and martyr Bruno Ante Busic, whose life, work, and ideas are built into the foundations of the freedom of the Croatian people and the independent, sovereign, and internationally recognised Croatian state". Other members of the delegation also signed the book of condolence. Upon entering the hall where Busic's remains are lying in state, the delegation was welcomed by the president of a parliamentary commission for establishing war and post-war victims, Vice Vukojevic, and the head of the foundation "Ante Bruno Busic", Ante Petric. Honorary guards standing by Busic's coffin will exchange until 3 pm today. His body will be publicly displayed until 6 pm, when the coffin will be taken to the morgue at Zagreb's central cemetery of Mirogoj. The burial of Busic's remains will take place at 2 pm on Saturday. (hina) rml