Vucic welcomes Zeman in Belgrade

BELGRADE- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic greeted Czech President Milos Zeman in a ceremony outside Belgrade's Palace of Serbia on Monday.

Zeman, who is on an official visit to Serbia, was given a red carpet and guard of honour welcome as the national anthems of the two countries were being played.

The ceremony was followed by a closed-door meeting between Vucic and Zeman and a plenary meeting of Serbian and Czech delegations.

Serbia and the Czech Republic are scheduled to sign a declaration on strengthening cultural cooperation and the establishment of a Czech House.

Vucic and Zeman will also hold a joint press conference.

The visit is Zeman's third trip to Serbia and will conclude his second and final presidential term, during which he offered an apology to Serbia and the Serbs for the 1999 NATO bombing.

"I like Serbia and the Serbian people, I do not like Kosovo," Zeman said at the time.

Zeman will also speak with Serbian PM Ana Brnabic.

After bilateral meetings at the Palace of Serbia, the two presidents will open the renovated Czech House building, situated in Belgrade's downtown municipality of Vracar.

Zeman will also speak with representatives of Serbia's Czech ethnic minority.