Lithuanian chief of defence visits soldiers, PRT in Ghor

GHOR, Afghanistan — Lithuania's top commander visited Lithuanian soldiers and Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team in Chagcharan, Afghanistan, March 22.

Lithuanian Lt. Gen. A. Pocius, Chief of Defence, was joined by Italian Brig. Gen. Luciano Portolano, Regional Command West commander, and a delegation from Regional Command West. Pocius is departing Afghanistan and visited to thank the troops for their service and say goodbye.

"When I first came to Chaghcharan there was practically nothing – sand, dust, almost Moon land. But today I see many positive changes,” Pocius said. "This is to your merit, but not all done yet; we need to continue and complete our work."

The Ghor PRT commander, along with Kazys Starkevičius, Lithuania's Minister of Agriculture, and Antanas Matulas, parliamentary Health Committee Chairman visited the Afghan National Disaster Management Agency and discussed the situation in Ghor province and possible assistance to local government. They also met with Rural Development and Agriculture Department representatives.

 

After the Lithuanian delegation visited Chaghcharan Hospital, which is undergoing reconstruction financed by Japan and Lithuania, they met with the chief physician, Dr. Juma Yaqubi Ghul.School recently began here, so the delegation also attended a Nowruz (Persian new year) celebration at the Chagcharan girls school.

The Ghor PRT consists of Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces, 5th Territorial Unit Vytis Military District. It's a joint civilian-military mission, an ISAF component, which started functioning in Ghor province in summer 2005. The PRT's mission is to support the central government in expanding authority throughout the province, promoting security and stability, and establishing conditions for reconstruction. The PRT also includes military and civilian personnel from Georgia, Japan, the U.S., Poland, Finland, Bulgaria and Ukraine.