Croatian Parliament speaker Boris Sprem dies in Houston

ZAGREB, Sept 30 (Hina) - Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Sprem, who suffered from multiple myeloma, died at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston on early Sunday morning, Central European Time, the Croatian parliament reported on Sunday morning.

Sprem went to the MD Anderson Cancer Center on August 23.

Following the news of the death of Croatian Parliament Speaker Boris Sprem, who died of multiple myeloma, the acting parliament speaker Josip Leko told Hina on Sunday that he had shared Sprem's optimism in his struggle with the disease, but, unfortunately, "the end was inevitable".

"I have known personally Boris (Sprem) for 22, 23 years. We have been in the same party and we have been friends and we have cooperated excellently. I shared his optimism in his struggle with the disease, unfortunately the end was inevitable," Leko said after the national parliament reported that Sprem passed away at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston on early Sunday morning, Central European Time.

Leko said that internal talks would be held in the parliament later in the day on preparations for "a dignified farewell ceremony for our friend and colleague in compliance with his political character and in line with his position".

Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic on Sunday sent a letter of condolence to the family of the deceased parliament speaker Boris Sprem after Sprem passed away at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where he had been treated for multiple myeloma.

Sprem, 57, is survived by his wife and son.

In his letter which he forwarded on his own behalf and on the behalf of the government, Milanovic said that he was "deeply grieved and saddened by the news of Boris's death"

"Boris's passing leaves us without a dear friend and colleague," Milanovic wrote, among other things, in the message in which he praised Sprem for having promoted parliamentarism and discussion.

Milanovic recalls that Sprem, a long-standing Social Democratic parliamentarian, had a rich political career and that he performed every duty honorably and open-heartedly with the sincere desire to work for the common weal.