Nicollier fought in the Sajmiste district, where he was wounded on November 9, 1991. He was taken to Vukovar's general hospital and, after the town's fall, was executed at the Ovcara farm later that year. His remains have not been found.

The decoration was received by Nicollier's mother Lyliane Fournier.

Josipovic said Nicollier was one of about 500 freedom-loving young mean from around the world who had joined the Croatian struggle for independence.

"Today we are rightfully talking about giving thanks to one of the war heroes of the Battle of Vukovar and a hero of the Homeland War," said Josipovic.

"Nicollier was loved and appreciated by his fellow fighters and his tragic death, towards the end of the siege of Vukovar, at Ovcara, the biggest execution site after World War Two, has all the elements of a war epic," said Josipovic, adding that Nicollier's noble sacrifice would link and strengthen forever the friendly ties between France and Croatia.

"Jean Michel was 25 when he decided to go to Croatia and the decision was final and all of us in the family supported it, thinking that it was just," his mother said, adding that her son had been an ordinary young man, an idealist who had studied to be a child nurse.

She said the family wished for his remains to be buried in Croatia because they felt he belonged here, having told them about his fellow fighters and the people he loved. She added that she would visit Vukovar and take a little of its soil to plant "the flower of hope."

One of the Sajmiste wartime commanders, Nikica Buric Samoborac, recalled meeting Nicollier who, when asked why he had come to Croatia and Vukovar, said he had come because he loved the Croatian people and that it deserved its own state.