June 11, President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė visited Lithuanian military deployed in Ghowr and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan, and in Kabul. Lithuanian President was accompanied by Ambassador of the United States in Lithuania HE Anne Elizabeth Derse, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius and other representatives of Lithuania.
The guests were briefed on the overall security situation in the province, civilian-military activities of the PRT, the main development cooperation projects sponsored by the PRT civilian personnel, tasks peacekeepers complete, cooperation with local governmental and non-governmental organisations and institutions of local administration while visiting the PRT camp.
Representatives of PRT-11 represented to the head of state and her delegation camp of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT, demonstrated conditions of service, work and leisure time of civilian and military personnel. In the address delivered to the PRT-11 personnel in Sgt. Arūnas Jarmalavičius Welfare Centre President D. Grybauskaitė wished dedication and luck, and highlighted that successful activities of our troops created Lithuania's reputation as a reliable partner in the eyes of its allies.
Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj. Gen. A.Pocius emphasized that the most important objective of the allies in Afghanistan to date is to provide appropriate training for Afghan Security Forces thus making them capable of ensuring security in their country independently.
„Training of Afghan local security forces has gained impetus, it is one of the key elements of ISAF Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal's strategy. Lithuania with the US allies plan establishing Police Opeational Training and Interaction Group that would provide training for police of Ghowr because it is the main force ensuring security in the province. The date of establishment will be announced in a short while ", Maj. Gen. A. Pocius said.
The President also visited personnel of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces serving in Kandahar province, head of state familiarized with their tasks, weaponry, and readiness. In the meeting with the Lithuanian President ISAF officers highlighted that Lithuanian Special Operations Squadron „Aitvaras"is assessed as one of the most professional special units across Afghanistan by the allies.
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 based in Chaghcharan 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-11 currently in charge of the PRT mission in Ghowr is based on the Lithuanian Great Duke Kęstutis Motorised Infantry Battalion stationed in Tauragė Distr. Kęstutis Battalion forms the majority of PRT for the second time, the great many of members in the rotation have experience of participation in international operations.
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.
Pictures by PIO for PRT-11 Capt. D. Toleikis.
PIC - Spokesperson of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Capt. Tomas Balkus, phone no (00370 5) 278 5091, cell phone no 00370 682 25 359.
