The Élysée Palace has officially announced the visit of French President Emanuel Macron to Serbia on 5^th and 6^th December, Tanjug news agency reports.

Some French media report on the planned visit as well, saying its main aim is to strengthen friendship between Paris and Belgrade.

20 Minutes daily writes relations between the two countries deteriorated on November 11, in the aftermath of the ceremony to mark the end of the WWI, and gaffes that the protocol has made. The daily added, many Serbs have objected Macron’s visit to Serbia, following the ceremony.

Also, many Serbs after the ceremony, said their country suffered the highest loss of population comparing to the number of inhabitants in the WWI, and that Serbia fought side by side with France on the eastern front.

It added, France refusal to extradite Ramush Haradinaj to Belgrade in April 2017, against whom Serbian prosecution is pressing criminal charges for the war crimes from the time of Kosovo conflict, “already awoke anti-French sentiments among the Serbs, but to lesser extent.”

Also, many Serbs have not forgiven France participation in the bombardment campaign against Serbia in 1999, and that difficulties in relations have led to weakening economic ties as well.

The daily La Croix announces Marcon’s visit, listing it among the three crucial international meetings the French President has, this week, including the negotiations on Yemen, and discussion on Brexit in the British Parliament.

The daily added, French President is visiting Belgrade to mark 100^th anniversary since the end of the WWI, “with its ally from that period, whose president felt he was treated badly during the ceremony in Paris on November 11.”