FORMER CROATIAN BASKETBALL PLAYER DIES IN WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON, May 25 (Hina) - Kresimir Cosic, a ministerial adviser at the Croatian embassy in Washington, died at 9.10 hours local time (15.10 CET) after a long and serious illness. He was aged 47. As one of the first Croatian diplomats in the United States, with his optimism, self-denial and enormous energy Cosic made a great contribution to the promotion of overall relations with the US, the Croatian Embassy said in a statement. Foreign Minister Mate Granic offered his condolences to Cosic's wife. Before he embarked on a diplomatic career, Cosic had been one of the best and most famous Croatian basketball players. Cosic was the first basketball player from outside the US to win an all-American basketball award in 1972, paving the way to Croatians Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc and Dino Radja, and other European players. (hina) vm 252126 MET may 95