Kosovo Force

He clarified that those were political decisions.

When asked to assess the course of the EU-moderated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Ducich said the only way to solve problems is for the country leaders to sit down and talk about them.

He added that there was intent to have a broader discussion with the EU within the September dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

This is according to Pristina-based media outlets, cited by UNMIK's Media Observer and Tanjug.

"Some media reported several days ago that KFOR placed the border between Kosovo and Serbia at the village of Karacevo, Kamenica municipality, despite opposition from the local residents," UNMIK's website said.

UNMIK upon their arrival in Kosovo undertook criminal investigations, the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) is reporting on its website.

UNMIK investigators received only meager information, and KFOR intelligence was "covered" with the explanation that all important data on this murder had already been handed over to the NATO military archive.

"In principle KFOR is NATO, and as long as KFOR is here any aggression (towards Kosovo) will be an aggression towards KFOR and NATO," Kouci said in an interview with Pristina daily Zeri.

He believes that despite the attempts of Russia's political influence in Kosovo, which is part of any country's international policies, he does not see a realistic threat of Russia toward Kosovo.

US Colonel Nick Ducich, of the California National Guard, took over the command of the US Army base in Kosovo - Bondsteel, GazetaExpress reports. During the handover ceremony held on Tuesday Ducich said that the role of the NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo - KFOR on offering a safe and secure environment remains the same.

RTS is reporting this on Tuesday, citing Kosovo-based media.

"I am the first US officer of Serbian ancestry to command the Multinational Battle Group East. The role of KFOR remains unchanged, contribution to a safe and secure environment for all," Ducich is quoted as saying.

The US officer took over the command of the base from Colonel Michael Spraggins.

The Serbian defence minister, Aleksandar Vulin, says Montenegro's decision to deploy two of its military officers to KFOR in Kosovo is "a political message of support for Kosovo's independence", Gazeta Express reported.

The Serbian defence minister, Aleksandar Vulin, says Montenegro's decision to deploy two of its military officers to KFOR in Kosovo is "a political message of support for Kosovo's independence."

NATO has no plan to downsize the presence of its peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, says KFOR commander General Salvatore Cuoci.

If and when this happens it will only be as a result of the assessment that there is improvement on the ground, he told Kosovapress, Tanjug reported on Monday, citing UNMIK's Media Observer.