On May 14 military contingents of Lithuania rotated in a formal changeover ceremony in the base of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Ghor. The 15th rotation of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT-15) began duty in the multinational mission in Afghanistan.
At the ceremony Chief of the Joint Headquarters of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and Commander of the Regional Command West transferred command from Col Eligijus Senulis to Col Artūras Radvilas.
The changeover ceremony was attended by Brig Gen Luigi Chiapperini, Commander of the Regional Command West, superior of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team, of the International Security Assistance Force, Commander of the Joint Headquarters of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Col Vilmantas Tamošaitis, Commander of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces Col Romualdas Moldaris.
Head of the Lithuanian Special Mission in Afghanistan Justinas Bakūnas, Head of the Civilian Element of the PRT Jurgis Stanaitis, Governor of Ghor Dr. Abdullah Haiwad, representatives of Ghor administration, security forces and NGOs were also present in the formal event.
During the ceremony Brig Gen Luigi Chiapperini and Col Vilmantas Tamošaitis made a symbolic handover of Lithuanian national flag and NATO flag from PRT-14 Commander to PRT-15 Commander, Col Vilmantas Tamošaitis and PRT-15 Commander Artūras Radvilas delivered addresses, after the event Governor of Ghor Dr. A.Haiwad invited the guests to tour Chaghcharan, the hospital of Chaghcharan, the center and surrounding areas of the city were presented.
PRT-15 formed by the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Motorised Infantry Battalion of the Lithuanian Land Force deployed into the mission area last week. The shift is led by Lt Col Artūras Radvilas, Commander of the Battalion. It is the second deployment of the Battalion's personnel to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Combat flag of the unit flew in the PRT camp in Chaghcharan in 2008.
Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian and military mission, a part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), launched in the province in summer of 2005. The essential task of the mission is to support Afghan government in extending its authority in the province, ensuring security and creating conditions for provincial reconstruction.
On the 4th of January, 2012, the town of Chaghcharan and the surrounding area were approved to join the transfer of responsibility process in Chaghcharan. Responsibility of local security forces, i.e. ANA units and police, for the security in their country is gradually increased since then. The key role of Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT is training of the Afghan National Security Forces with a focus on instructions.
The mentoring function for the Afghan National Security Forces will be performed by two newly named teams: Police Mentoring Team (PMT-1, formerly Police operational Mentoring and Liaison Team) and Military Advisory Team (MAT-1, former PRT Training Team). PMT-1 includes 20 members: 12 US troops and 8 Lithuanians - Military Police and Public Security Service officers. It is led by Maj Darius Bartasevičius.
Lithuanian civilian and military personnel in Ghor executes the peacekeeping mission along with colleagues from Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland, the Check Republic and Ukraine.
PIO for PRT-151st Lt Jurgis Norvaiša
Photos by 1st Lt. Andrius Česnauskas
