POLITICIANS & DEFENCE OFFICIALS OFFER CONDOLENCES ON SUSAK'S DEATH

( Editorial: --> 1399 ) ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - The death of Defence Minister Gojko Susak has affected the whole country, Croatian National Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic said on Monday in a message of condolence. This is a loss for everyone who respected him, even those who did not always agree with him, Pavletic told journalists. This is a moment when we have to overcome this loss and continue the struggle in which Minister Susak had from the very start taken part in as a great patriot, organiser of the Croatian Army and a very worthy man in uniting Croatia's diaspora and the homeland during the most difficult days of the war and in the peace-time period, Pavletic said. House of Counties Speaker Katica Ivanisevic expressed condolences to the Susak family, the Croatian Government, President Franjo Tudjman, the Defence Ministry and the governing Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). "He dedicated his whole life and activities to Croatia which he immensely loved and for this we remain forever indebted to him," Ivanisevic said. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said: "Minister Susak was courageous and was at his best in the most difficult moments - from the beginning of the establishment of the Croatian state, the defence from aggression, help to the Croat people in Bosnia- Herzegovina and finally the liberation of Croatia. It was an honour to have worked with Minister Susak during those most difficult moments." Messages of condolences were also sent by Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Kresimir Cosic, Croatian Army Chief-Of-Staff Lieutenant General Pavao Miljavac and Defence Ministry chief inspector, Lieutenant General Ante Gotovina. The death of Minister Susak is an immeasurable loss. The man who commanded the liberation of the Croatian homeland and the strengthening of the state is gone, Deputy Defence Minister Cosic said. Interior Minister Ivan Penic said in his message that under Susak's leadership the Croatian Army had in a short time become a respectable armed force. During the Homeland war the Army, together with the Croatian police, had secured the protection of Croatia's basic national interests. Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS) president Drazen Budisa expressed condolences to the Susak family, the Croatian Government and the HDZ. We from the HSLS remember him as an exceptionally correct politician, who cooperated with all parties in an equal manner, Budisa said. Croatian Pure Party of Rights president Ivan Gabelica also expressed his party's condolences to the Croatian Government and the Susak family. Social Democratic Party president Ivica Racan said Gojko Susak had given a great contribution to the establishment of a sovereign Croatian state and its successful defence from Serbian aggression. The Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) also expressed condolences to the Susak family and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Telegrams of condolence were also sent by the Association of Croatian Homeland War Veterans, the Union of Croatian War Veterans' Associations, the Croatian Society of Former Political Prisoners, the Union of Croatian Defence Forces Volunteers, the Croatian Employers' Association (HUP), Zagreb City Council assembly chairman Zlatko Canjuga and the leaderships of many Croatian cities and towns. (Hina) mb /rm 042137 MET may 98