COMMEMORATION HELD FOR DEFENCE MINISTER SUSAK

( Editorial: --> 1921 ) ZAGREB, May 6 (Hina) - Croatian senior officials and representatives of the Bosnian Federation on Wednesday paid their respects to the deceased Croatian Defence Minister, Gojko Susak, at a commemoration at Zagreb's concert hall "Vatroslav Lisinski". After striking up the Croatian national anthem, the present paid their respects with a minute of silence. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said Gojko Susak was one of the most important people to have contributed to the establishment of a free and independent Croatian state and a unity between Croatians home and abroad. "Gojko Susak was one of the most prominent people of the current state and political leadership and my closest associate," Tudjman said. "Wholeheartedly and without hesitation he accepted the programme of reconciliation of the divided and disunited Croatian people, realising that withought unanimity, there could be no creation of the Croatian state," Tudjman said. Along with Susak's family, present at the commemoration were representatives of the Croatian government and Parliament, representatives of Croatian diaspora, diplomatic corps, cultural and public institutions, Church officials and friends and associates of the deceased Defence Minister, Gojko Susak. (hina) lm as 061343 MET may 98