(ANSA) - BELGRADE, DECEMBER - Ambassador Francesco Maria Talò, who's the Italian permanent representative to the Atlantic Council, visited the Nato mission in Kosovo (KFOR) yesterday.

KFOR reported. The Italian representative to Nato was received by the new KFOR commander, General Michele Risi, who took stock of the situation in the Balkans in terms of security and as for political, social and economic issues. Talò also met with the military of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Carabinieri of the 'Multinational Specialized Unit' deployed in Pristina, underlining the importance of the Italian leadership of KFOR and wishing all the best to the military contingent. KFOR relies on a force of 3,400 soldiers from 28 nations and is commanded for the seventh year in a row by an Italian general. The mission, launched in 1999 under a UN mandate, has among its tasks that of ensuring a safe environment in Kosovo and guaranteeing freedom of movement for all communities, "while supporting the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, promoted by the EU as the only lasting political solution," KFOR remarked. (ANSA).