CRO DEFENSE MINISTER UNCOVERS 'CROATIAN HAWK'

ZAGREB, May 28 (Hina) - On occasion of the Croatian Statehood Day, President Tudjman's envoy, Defense Minister Gojko Susak, on Tuesday uncovered the "Croatian Hawk" sculpture in the Zagreb park Maksimir. On the hillock called "Native soil" on which the sculpture stands, Susak laid a heap of earth which had been kissed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Croatia. #L# "Members of the 5. guards brigade of the Croatian army are also called 'Hawks'," Susak said after he had uncovered the sculpture which had been cloaked with the Croatian flag. "Most of them are sons of Vukovar. Together with them we will return to Vukovar," Susak said. Present at the ceremony were military envoys of some 20 countries, Croatian army high officials headed by the head of the main headquarters, General Zvonimir Cervenko, Parliamentary representatives and other guests, as well as numerous citizens of Zagreb. Susak reviewed the Croatian army, Croatian guards, Military police and Navy troops. Head of the Defense Ministry Police Administration, Major General Ivan Tolj recalled that the "Native soil" hillock had been formed on August 15 1925, when Croats formed the hillock from the soil of 155 Croatian regions, on occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the Croatian kingdom. A year later, the "Croatian Hawk" should have been set up but it had not been possible until Croatia was free, Tolj added. "We are doing this today, on the day of the armed forces of the sovereign and internationally recognized Croatia. We are setting the 156th hunk of soil, which symbolizes all the 155 previous ones, the one which was kissed by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Croatia," Tolj said. Sculptors of the "Croatian Hawk" are Mladen Mikulin, who was also present at the ceremony, and the late priest, Marijan Gajsek. (hina) lm jn 282119 MET may 96