CROATIAN DEFENCE MINISTER GOJKO SUSAK BURIED

( Editorial: --> 2231 ) ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - The remains of Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak were buried at Zagreb's Mirogoj cemetery some time after 2pm Thursday, accompanied by the sounds of the Croatian national anthem. The last to express condolences and recollections of Gojko Susak as a friend, defence minister and general was Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. "Dear Gojko, thank you for everything you have suffered through and for what you gave to Croatia's freedom and independence," Tudjman said, expressing farewell to Gojko Susak. Susak's funeral was attended by several tens of thousands of friends, associates, citizens and fans from home and abroad. Recalling Susak as his first, most loyal and consistent associate since the day he was not allowed to openly say that their goal was to create an independent Croatian state, President Tudjman said the whole of Croatia was saying farewell to Gojko Susak with pride and great pain - from his birth place Siroki Brijeg to the capital of all Croatians, Zagreb, from Vukovar to Prevlaka, from Medjimurje to Istria, and Croats at home and abroad. "We have succeeded thanks to you being a loyal and reliable associate, a man who knew how to be decisive, but also wise and reasonable," Tudjman said. "We have created a Croatia that many do not want, but have to respect," Tudjman stressed. This is the significance of Susak's work, our joint work, and a guarantee for the future of both Susak's birth place, Herzegovina, and the independent, free and democratic Croatia, Tudjman said. Before Tudjman, Lt. Gen. Ante Gotovina, Health Minister Andrija Hebrang and Bosnian Federation Vice-President Vladimir Soljic said farewell to Gojko Susak. (hina) lm as /mb 071541 MET may 98