On May 8, Commander of the ISAF Regional Command West Brig. Gen. Claudio Berto visited Lithuanian-led PRT of Ghowr, province of Afghanistan.
Brig. Gen. C. Berto conducted the visit in Chaghcharan to familiarise with the Lithuanian-led PRT, find out challenges and difficulties peacekeepers face in Ghowr, and to discuss the ways in which leadership of the Regional Command West could help to solve the problems. The guest addressed the points of interest in a discussion with Commander PRT-10 Col. Gediminas Macijauskas that was also joined by Commander PRT-11 Col. Gintaras Smaliukas, representatives of PRT-10 staff, the head of civilian element of the PRT Linas Linkevičius, civilian representatives of the United States and Japan. At the PRT camp Brig. Gen. C. Berto also discussed situation in the province with the Governor of Ghowr Mohammad Eqbal Muneeb, chiefs of Ghowr Police and National Security Department.
In the meeting ISAF Commander was briefed on the key PRT's projects, sponsored development cooperation activities, tasks implemented by CIMIC specialists, general situation in the province, contribution of PRT representatives, governmental organisations and NGOs, and local administration as well as peculiarities of coordination of actions in the processes of provincial development.
Commander of the ISAF Regional Command West Brig. Gen. C. Berto and Commander PRT-10 Col. G. Macijauskas PRT-10 awarded troops with the Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Service with NATO in relation to the ISAF Operation.
Brig. Gen. C.Berto was appointed as the new Commander of the ISAF Regional Command West in April 2010 replacing Brig. Gen. Aleksandro Veltri.
NATO's International Security Assistance Force was established in December 2001. It covers Afghanistan in five regions - North, East, South, West and Capital - each coordinated by A Regional Command. There is a contribution of around 90 thousand peacekeepers of 45 states deployed in Afghanistan. The forces operate under 26 provincial reconstruction teams.
Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghowr based in Chaghcharan, provincial capital, is a joint military-civilian mission operating under the NATO's International Security Assistance Force. Lithuania took responsibility for the PRT of Ghowr province in summer of 2005. The main objective of the PRT mission is to assist the Central Government of Afghanistan to extend its authority throughout the province, to ensure security and to help built environment favourable for provincial reconstruction.
PRT-10 currently providing security in Ghowr is based on the 1st Territorial Unit of Dainava Military District of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force. Along with around 150 civilians and military from Lithuania representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Romania and Ukraine serve in the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team. In the nearest future PRT-10 will be replaced by PRT-11 based on the Lithuanian Grand Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion.
PIO for PRT-10 1st Lt. Skomantas Povilionis.
Pictures by 1st Lt. S. Povilionis
