ZAGREB, Dec 13 8Hina) - All what happened in the last decade bore the unique imprint of Franjo Tudjman. He was an extraordinary skilful politician, a man who never surrendered, said Vlatko Pavletic, the Croatian National Sabor's
President and Croatia's acting President, in his farewell speech which he held addressing Tudjman's family and thousands of citizens gathered in front of the Mirogoj main morgue. Being accompanied by sounds of drums, the funeral procession set froth from the morgue toward the burial site, Tudjman's crypt placed behind the Church of Lord Jesus Christ. The first President of Croatia will rest in peace near buried Croatian great men in Mirogoj Arcades. The funeral service in front of the morgue commenced at about 13.00 hrs when the cortege with Tudjman's coffin arrived in front of the morgue. Thousands of sorrowful citizens, who arrived from all regions of Croatia to pay their last re
ZAGREB, Dec 13 8Hina) - All what happened in the last decade bore the
unique imprint of Franjo Tudjman. He was an extraordinary skilful
politician, a man who never surrendered, said Vlatko Pavletic, the
Croatian National Sabor's President and Croatia's acting
President, in his farewell speech which he held addressing
Tudjman's family and thousands of citizens gathered in front of the
Mirogoj main morgue.
Being accompanied by sounds of drums, the funeral procession set
froth from the morgue toward the burial site, Tudjman's crypt
placed behind the Church of Lord Jesus Christ. The first President
of Croatia will rest in peace near buried Croatian great men in
Mirogoj Arcades.
The funeral service in front of the morgue commenced at about 13.00
hrs when the cortege with Tudjman's coffin arrived in front of the
morgue.
Thousands of sorrowful citizens, who arrived from all regions of
Croatia to pay their last respects to their President, followed the
procession from the Presidential Palace to the central Zagreb
cemetery. Besides them, Croatian state officials, Diaspora
representatives, Church dignitaries, foreign diplomats and
delegations came to pay tribute the deceased President Tudjman.
The last honour of guard in the morgue was held by Sabor President
Vlatko Pavletic, Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, Presidents of
Supreme and Constitutional Courts, Marijan Ramuscak and Smiljko
Sokol respectively, the late President's chief of staff, Ivica
Kostovic, and House of Counties President Katica Ivanisevic.
Drums were played while eight generals were taking the coffin of
President Tudjman out of the morgue. After the President's family
stood opposite to the casket, two folk songs - one from the Mura
River area and the other from Dalmatia - were performed by choirs.
After that Sabor President Pavletic gave a speech stressing that
Tudjman had left his unique mark on everything what had happened in
the last decade. Not only strategic but also tactic decision have
his signature, he pointed.
Pavletic recalled that the deceased President was a versatile and
curious person, apt to quickly grasp the crux of a problem. His
preoccupation ranged from history to sports, from politics to
economy, philosophy and culture.
Pavletic added that Tudjman had developed as a personality to such
dimensions that in the foreseeable future he would have no equal.
Statements of political parties' leaders, many world statesmen and
many common people confirm that Tudjman was more than the president
of a party and a country - he was the architect of the eternal
Croatia, Pavletic added. "This is what Dr. Franjo Tudjman was like
for all of us. In a period that has already been named Tudjman's
era," Pavletic said.
He added that even those who did not follow Tudjman in his policy
recognise today his status as the great man to whom it is impossible
not to refer.
If the humanity is immortality of the mortal man then 'the eternal
Croatia' how Tudjman used to call his homeland at the end of his
speeches, is the genuine immortality of Tudjman as the creator of
the state, undisputed great man of the modern history of Croatia,
Pavletic concluded his speech.
After Pavletic's speech, a choir sang Tudjman's favourite song
"God, Save Croatia".
The religious service was led by the Primate in the Roman Catholic
Church in Croatia, Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic, who conveyed
heartfelt condolences to the family of the late President.
Franjo Tudjman will certainly be remembered in the history of
Croatia's statehood as one of great architects, Bozanic said in his
speech.
The Church dignitary recalled the beginning of the first term of
office of President Tudjman which was marked by most difficult
circumstances when the democratically expressed will of the
Croatian people to have its own State faced the fierce opposition.
This should be taken in account for future historical assessments
of his service to Croatia as its President, Archbishop added.
The first President of the restored state of Croatia is leaving. On
one hand he becomes a part of history and on the other a part of the
eternity. But Croatia has been bequeathed to all of us, as God's
gift and a task, Bozanic said.
At the end of his speech Bozanic thanked to God for the last nine
years of the homeland of Croatia and for all good given by Tudjman
while he had served his homeland.
(hina) ms