The NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, H.E. John MANZA visited KFOR Headquarters today.

KFOR command in Pristina has announced that new US troops in Kosovo will replace soldiers whose mandate had expired.

A statement said that the upcoming deployment of US soldiers represents regular handover of duties between two contingents from the United States, which are being rotated, not an additional contribution by the United States, RTS reported.

Analysts say the US announcement of sending an additional 130 troops to Kosovo to support KFOR and NATO is a message to warmongering politicians in the region.

The troops in question are members of US special units of the Tupelo-based 1st Battalion, "highly trained for emergency response," the daily Blic is reporting.

Mayor of North Mitrovica Goran Rakić ordered today the suspension of construction works on and around the bridge in this city, and asked the international and local security authorities to ensure the security of citizens.

Rakić said that the reason behind was a series of serious incidents in the city and that he asks the representatives of the EU to comply with the Brussels agreement and above all to ensure the safety to citizens.

Daily Politika quotes today Deputy Prime Minister in the Kosovo Government Branimir Stojanović saying that currently there are no operational data which show that safety is jeopardized, but he also says that there was no indication of the pogrom that took place on 17 March 2004.

Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos visited Greek soldiers within KFOR in Kosovo, expressing praise for his country's role in preserving stability in the region.

Media in Pristina, however, point out that the Greek Minister during the visit did not meet with any official of the central institutions in Pristina, adding that Greece is one of the five EU countries that have not recognized Kosovo's independence.

The KFOR commander, Italian General Giovanni Fungo said to daily Politika that members of the Kosovo Police Special Units (ROSU) can move throughout Kosovo without the permission of KFOR; and added that it was regulated by the Brussels agreement (2013) between Belgrade and Pristina.

-On the basis of the Brussels Agreement of 2013 between Belgrade and Pristina, Kosovo's institutions are not required to seek approval from KFOR for their police forces to move throughout the territory of Kosovo, said Fungo.

In a meeting with Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli today, President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci officially presented the draft law for transformation of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an armed force.

NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, is expected to visit Kosovo tomorrow, a press release issued by KFOR announced. During the visit, US Army General Scaparrotti will meet KFOR Commander, Major General Giovanni Fungo and hold a press conference afterwards.

Sources from NATO Headquarters said that the Brussels Agreement of 2013, mentioned these days by Serbia, does not include Kosovo police forces.

These sources, Serbian media report, claim that “Kosovo authorities do not have to seek KFOR’s permission to send their police forces anywhere in Kosovo.”