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"37 Serbs currently in Kosovo Security Force, as 70 leave" (Tanjug, B92, Lajmi)

The KSF (Kosovo Security Force) commander Rahman Rama said that "due to pressure from Belgrade," 70 members have left this formation. He submitted a report to a relevant parliamentary committee and said the focus of the KSF was on "including members of minority communities.”

Currently, the KSF has 10 percent of minority communities’ members and eight percent of women.

"Due to pressure and blackmail that came from Serbia, more than 70 members have left the KSF and now we have 37," Rama claims, Albanian daily Lajmi is reporting.

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KFOR Commander: We do not train staff and do not equip KSF (Kontakt plus radio, RTK2, Blic)

Major-General Lorenzo D'Addario said that KFOR was ready for any scenario when it comes to the final agreement between Pristina and Belgrade and assessed the security situation in Kosovo as satisfactory.

KFOR Commander Lorenzo D’Addario, in a RTK2 show, said that it was important that the solution of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina satisfies both parties.

NATO: KSF obligations agreed in letters that are not public (RTS)

Kosovo authorities and NATO in letters exchanged in 2013 agreed on the obligation that Kosovo Security Forces (KSF) can not move northern of the Ibar River without KFOR approval. However, these letters are not available to the public, NATO officials said, RTS reported.

The obligation is clear, Kosovo Security Forces cannot move north of the Ibar River without approval of KFOR. Asked if it is possible to see the letters, the NATO official responded, “that this correspondence is not available to the public.”

"Thaci made promise to NATO in 2013 regarding North" (FRE, B92)

Hashim Thaci promised to NATO in 2013 that the KSF will not go to the north of Kosovo "without the consent of KFOR," Radio Free Europe said it learned. NATO sources explained that there was an exchange of letters between the-then Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and former Secretary General Andreas Fogh Rasmussen.

US Ambassador to NATO on Belgrade-Pristina relations (Tanjug, B92)

USA Ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison said the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina would also mitigate other problems on the both sides, Tanjug news agency reported.

“We want Kosovo and Serbia to work together on normalization. Normalization would contribute to mitigate many other open issues that both sides have,” Ambassador Hutchison said.

She added it is NATO’s wish to overcome historic problems in the territories of Serbia and Kosovo and to establish inclusive minority rights “on both sides of the borders.”

"Rosu can go to north without KFOR approval, KFS can't" (B92, Beta)

KFOR spokesperson Vincenzo Grasso says special units Rosu can enter the north of Kosovo without the permission of KFOR.

In an interview with the newspaper, Grasso said that "the special operations unit, which can be armed with long rifles" belongs to the Kosovo police and as such has the mandate to enforce the law throughout Kosovo "without the obligation to seek approval."

New KFOR Commander: We are ready to intervene if stability is endangered (Tanjug, B92, Pobjeda)

Newly appointed KFOR Commander Major General Lorenzo D’Addario said KFOR is ready to intervene in Kosovo if stability is endangered, Tanjug news agency reported.

General D’Addario told Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda that decision on transformation of Kosovo Security Forces into armed forces is ill-timed.

He added, the North-Atlantic Organization would now have to re-examine its level of engagement with Kosovo Security Forces.

KFOR: Armored vehicles Kosovo received are not threat, no indicators of military action (Tanjug, RTS)

KFOR Spokesperson Vincenzo Grasso said delivery of 24 armored vehicles “Humvee” for the needs of Kosovo Security Forces “does not represent a threat” adding there are no indicators that any military action could occur in the territory of Kosovo.

RTK2 published the news two days ago, saying that highly mobile and multipurpose armored military vehicles arrived from USA in Kosovo.

Grasso said the armored vehicles are intended to transport personnel and claims “there are no reasons for fear and concern.”

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Selakovic: "Citizens must understand how our situation is serious" (B92, TV Prva, Vecernje Novosti)

Secretary general of the Serbian president Nikola Selakovic told Prva TV on Wednesday that there is no confirmation that Washington is sending a ship full of weapons to the (future) Kosovo army, quotes B92 portal.

"The very fact that the formation of the so-called Kosovo army is being considered, which is contrary to all international regulations, but also to those adopted in Kosovo, shows that they don't hesitate at nothing," said Selakovic.

A NATO official on "Kosovo Army" (B92, TV Prva)

NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs James Appathurai told Belgrade based TV Prva that at this moment NATO provides advisory support to the Kosovo Security Force, not to any potential new army.

"Although the Kosovo authorities are heading towards this, then that is something that we will have to follow very carefully," Appathurai says.