BELGRADE, Dec. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- NATO's South Wing Commander, US Admiral Harry Ulrich, said here on Sunday that the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) would be able to ensure the safety of all in the southern Serbian province.

    "I have complete trust in KFOR forces," Ulrich told a press conference following his talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic.

    He said that NATO's South Wing headquarters in Naples was ready to strengthen its cooperation with Serbia-Montenegro.

    Kosovo, a Serbian pro-independence province, has been administered by the United Nations and KFOR since mid-1999. The talks on its future status are expected to be held early next year under the auspices of UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari.

    President Tadic said that he and Ulrich had expressed readiness to do all they could so as to prevent any possible escalation of violence in Kosovo.

    On Sunday, Ulrich also met Serbia-Montenegro Defense Minister Zoran Stankovic and other senior officials, to discuss the situation in the region, particularly that in Kosovo and South Serbia, as well as the further improvement of bilateral cooperation. Enditem