Leaving ceremony conducted to see off Lithuanian troops to Afghanistan
On Friday, 3 June, an official leaving ceremony of troops of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in the Afghan province of Ghor was conducted at the Ministry of National Defence.
During the ceremony, the leaving soldiers were congratulated by the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Gediminas Kirkilas, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Major General Valdas Tutkus, leadership of the Ministry of National Defence, families of troops leaving for the mission. Commander of the Lithuania-led PRT, Lieutenant Colonel Gintautas Zenkevièius was handed in the unit’s flag.
The mission in Afghanistan is one of the largest international projects to be implemented by Lithuania. With assistance from other NATO nations, Lithuania will lead the Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team, which is part of the operation of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
Troops of the Lithuania-led PRT are due to leave for Afghanistan this week. The mission will include tasks ranging from enhancement of Afghanistan central authority’s influence in the province, providing assistance to local security structures in ensuring security and stability, establishing conditions for the reconstructing the province and the state to acting as mediators in promoting activities of governmental organizations in the province.
Upon arrival at the province, the first task of Lithuanian troops will be to establish the camp-base and its infrastructure. The team is expected to achieve its fill operational capability by October later this year. During this stage, support of the elections to the National Assembly of Afghanistan scheduled to take place on 18 September will be of the greatest importance.
The mission will rotate on a basis of six months. The Lithuania-led Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team will also involve military and non-military personnel from Island, Denmark and the United States.
