The 12th shift of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT and Lithuanian-led Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POML) began duty in Afghanistan.
November 15, the 12th shift of the Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team an the first shift of POMLT that will provide training for Afghan National Police Forces in Ghor began service in ISAF mission in Afghanistan by an official rotation ceremony.
In the ceremony Col Gintaras Smaliukas handed over credentials of the PRT Commander to Col Remigijus Baltrėnas.
RC-W Commander Brig Gen Marcello Bellacicco (Lithuanian-led Chaghcharan PRT falls under the mandate of the Regional Command West), Commander of the Motorised Infantry Brigade „Iron Wolf" Col Vilmantas Tamošaitis, acting Governor of Ghor Fazulal Haq Nejaa, leadership of Ghor provincial administration and local security forces, representatives of governmental organisations and NGOs visited the PRT base on occasion of rotation of contingents.
Addressing peacekeepers during a solemn formation RC-W Commander Brig Gen Marcello Bellacicco stressed their honourable duty in the war devastated country and multifaceted assistance to Afghan population in building a better future through enhanced security in the province. The General emphasized that families and home countries of the peacekeepers as well as the multinational allied forces had every reason to be proud in their service.
„Provincial Reconstruction Team will continue seeking stable good relations and close cooperation with leadership of Ghor administration and local security forces and civil local population. We will continue the work underway and will commit maximum effort to help locals build a better life and brighter future," said Commander of the incoming PRT rotation Col R. Baltrėnas.
Head of the PRT Civilian Component Linas Linkevičius in his speech in the rotation ceremony wished to the new shift to continue developing friendly relations with provincial administration and people, and maintain the role of weighty factor in helping local Afghans reconstruct their country in the coming half of year duty period.
Acting Provincial Governor Fazulal Haq Nejaat expressed gratitude to the international community, PRT command and troops for the support rendered to the province. Governor pointed out good relations between the Lithuanian-led PRT and local administration as namely cooperation determined changes in the province. He expressed a hope that the new rotation will maintain relations just as good.
The key task of PRT is to help Afghan Government extend authority in the province, to ensure security, and create relevant conditions for provincial reconstruction. Prerequisites for the allied forces deployed in Afghanistan to finish the mission will be delivered as soon as the country's National Security Forces are able to ensure security of the country and its people independently. In the present period major attention is paid to training and preparation projects for Afghan National Security Forces in the framework of the new NATO ISAF strategy in Afghanistan.
PRT-12 is formed mainly of troops of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion providing personnel for the ISAF mission in Ghor for a second time. The Battalion's combat flag flew in the base of Chaghcharan PRT in Ghor province, Afghanistan, for the first time in 2006.
Personnel of POMLT deployed to Ghor together with PRT-12 numbers 20: 18 members of Military Police of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard, and two officers of the Public Security Service under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania. The first shift of POMLT will be commanded by the LAF MP officer Maj Vidmantas Žilakauskas.
The Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of NATO's ISAF, that was launched in Ghor in summer of 2005. The main task of the mission is to help Government of Afghanistan to extend authority in the province, ensure security and create environment for provincial reconstruction. Prerequisites for the allied forces deployed in Afghanistan to finish the mission will be provided as soon as the country's National Security Forces are able to ensure security of the country and its people independently. In the present period major attention is paid to the projects of training and preparation of Afghan National Security Forces. One of them - Lithuanian-led Police Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (POMLT) - enters operation in Ghor this November.
Representatives of Denmark, Georgia, Japan, USA, Poland, Finland and Ukraine serve together with Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in Ghor PRT camp in Chaghcharan.
Prepared by PIO for PRT-12 Capt Ainaras Jonaitis
