150TH ANNIVERSARY OF CRO ANTHEM CELEBRATED IN GLINA

GLINA, Sept 22 (Hina) - The 150th anniversary of the creation of the music of the Croatian anthem "Our Beautiful Homeland" was celebrated in Glina on Sunday under the auspices of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The celebration gathered some 1,000 citizens from Glina and the surrounding area. Head of the municipality Marko Sremic pointed out that in 1846 Josip Runjanin set music to the lyrics of poet Antun Mihanovic "Croatian Homeland", and in 1974 it became Croatia's first anthem. Among else, he also stressed that in last year's Storm military operation, Glina was liberated from four years of Serbian occupation. Also present at the celebration was President Franjo Tudjman's advisor for culture Zlatko Vitez who welcomed the gathered on the president's behalf and spoke of the importance of the creation of the anthem for the awakening and raising of the Croatian national consciousness. Regarding doubts on the authorship of the anthem, Vitez stressed that experts had proved that it was set to music by Runjanin in Glina 150 years ago. He also uncovered a bust of Josip Runjanin as well as a memorial plaque in honour of this anniversary. (hina) ha 221504 MET sep 96