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NATO, US reacts to "KSF transformation" draft law (B92, Beta, Radio Free Europe)

NATO has assessed that the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) is a question for the Kosovo authorities.

A NATO official told Radio Free Europe on Thursday that "any change in the structure, mandate, and mission of the KSF will require constitutional amendments" and that it "supports the development of the force “under its current mandate."

The KSF s also described as "a professional, multi-ethnic force, and a source of regional stability," Beta reported.

James Rubin’s dilemma on border corrections (Prishtina Insight)

Former US Assistant Secretary of State James Rubin believes a deal on border changes between Kosovo and Serbia will not ensure Kosovo’s UN membership.

In an interview with BIRN, commenting on Russia and Serbia’s role in Kosovo’s future in the United Nations, Rubin said that Russia has become stronger since the time he was involved in US diplomacy between 1997 and 2000.

Head of Croatian diplomacy worried about redrawing borders (Blic, Hina)

Croatian Foreign Minister Marija Pejcinovic-Buric met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday. Among other things, she spoke about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and warned against the danger of redrawing the borders, Belgrade daily Blic reports, quoting Croatian news agency Hina.

"Johnson's conclusions will decisively affect the final position of the USA" (RTS)

Senator Johnson came to inspect the situation, see what possibilities and ideas are for reaching an agreement, and he returns to Washington with conclusions that will decisively affect the final US position on Kosovo, says to Radio Television Serbia (RTS), Stefan Surlic, the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade.

He told RTS that the United States sent a clear message during the visit that they are flexible, for two reasons.

American Serbian Orthodox Church: Territorial division would cause mass exodus and internal expulsion of the population (Kontakt plus radio)

On August 31, Serbian parishes and organizations in the United States opposed the idea of "delineation" or "border correction" by a joint letter addressed to the US Senate, Congress and individuals in the administration.

The letter of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States, which through the three dioceses makes about 184 churches and monasteries, Kontakt plus radio transmits in full:

''Dear Senators, Representatives of the Congress and officials in the Administration:

"US and Germany are at odds about Kosovo partition" (Tanjug, B92)

American Wall Street Journal (WSJ) daily and Brussels portal EUobserver reported on the informal meeting of the EU foreign ministers on August 30-31 in Vienna.

The American paper said that US and Germany were on the opposite sides when it came to a plan about border change between Serbia and Kosovo and solving one of the last major territorial disputes in Europe.

US state position on Kosovo partition, and have clear message (B92)

Speculation is increasing about a possible agreement between Belgrade and Pristina that would mean a change of borders.

After a lengthy silence, the United States have stated their position on the idea.

On several occasions foreign media, analyzing the possible solution to relations between Serbia and Kosovo, mentioned the danger of the rise of new tensions in the Balkans due to the possible border changes in the Balkans, and one of the reasons was that the US administration, with the arrival of Trump, seems to have left the region to "in the lurch."

Vucic launches offensive: Putin, Trump, Macron... (Blic, B92)

The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina continues in less than a month in Brussels, Belgrade-based daily Blic writes.

According to the newspaper, which cited top government circles, India's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu is coming to Belgrade. After that, Blic said, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic should meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

"This meeting has already been agreed, it only remains unknown whether the two presidents will meet in Moscow or in Vladivostok," the daily's source said.

Colonel Nick Ducich: I expect no incidents (Radio kontakt plus)

Commander of KFOR Multi-National Brigade East and US base in Kosovo Bondsteel, Colonel Nick Ducich told Kontakt plus radio the current security situation in Kosovo is peaceful and stable. He expects no incidents but pointed out that KFOR was ready to handle anything that might be considered as provocation.

When asked if the allegations published by some media are true, that KFOR is training Kosovo Security Forces (KSF), Ducich said that KFOR was training KSF, but only within the framework of KFOR’s mandate and the US as a country, in terms of the key competencies.

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Putin and Vucic to discuss Kosovo on 15 September (Blic, Vecernje Novosti, N1)

Serbian media reports that on 15 September President of Russia, Vladimir Putin will host Aleksandar Vucic President of Serbia to discuss a solution to Kosovo’s issue.

Before meeting Putin, in their 13th official encounter in several years, and the third since Vucic became the president, he will have another round of talks with Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci in Brussels, within the framework of the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue facilitated by the European Union, planned for early next month.