Speaking to the press in Varazdin, Cacic said he appreciated Sprem and knew him as a good friend adding that Sprem's biggest values were honesty, good intentions and correctness, which he transferred into his work in politics.
"Personally he was one of the closest people to me in politics, regardless of the different parties we belonged to, and at one time in his life he was even on the board of one of the companies that I used to set up. Therefore, we had a very, very good relationship in business as well," said Cacic.
Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic sent a telegram of condolence to Sprem's family.
Sprem, who suffered from multiple myeloma, died at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston early this morning, Central European Time.