CROATIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DECORATES DEPUTY US MILITARY ATTACH

( Editorial: --> 4089 ) ZAGREB, Jan 13 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak on Tuesday decorated the deputy to the US military attaché, Ivan Sirac, with the Order of the Croatian Shamrock. Presenting Sirac with the decoration, Susak presented him with a present - a painting of the town of Hvar, on behalf of the Croatian Defence Ministry, as a US officer of Croatian background. Thanking Susak for the decoration, Sirac said he was leaving as one of the longest-serving military attaches to Croatia. During his service in Croatia, he had seen a lot of pain and suffering, but he also witnessed the pride and courage of the Croatian people and soldiers, Sirac said. Present at the ceremony were Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic and other high-ranking Ministry officials, as well as the US Military Attaché, Lt. John Sadler. (hina) lm jn 131238 MET jan 98