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Allies are offering condolences to Lithuania, after the loss of Lithuanian soldier Arūnas Jarmalavičius in the province of Ghor, Afghanistan. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried called Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas and on behalf of the U.S.A. presented sincere condolences to the family of the Lithuanian soldier and to all the people of Lithuania.

D.Fried confirmed once again that the U.S.A. particularly appreciated the responsibility of the Lithuanian soldiers and civilians, their dedication and professionalism in defending the values of the Euro Atlantic community and the security of all of us.  The U.S. administration official assured that the U.S.A. would offer political, military and technical assistance to the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province of Ghor.

P.Vaitiekūnas and D.Fried emphasized that it was important to increase the assistance of the local provincial government and military to the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team, so that the remaining unrest could be curbed and the security situation in the province would be stabilized as early as possible.

P.Vaitiekūnas indicated that only a more even distribution of assistance of the international community would allow us to guarantee stability in the provinces of Afghanistan, which had been held to be comparatively peaceful until recently. The Minister warranted that Lithuania, after its dire loss in Afghanistan, would continue to respect its international commitments and to take part in the transatlantic military missions and operations.

‘We shall defend the values of our Euro Atlantic family and the security of all of us wherever they are threatened,’ said P.Vaitiekūnas.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer also expressed condolences to the soldier’s family and to the people of Lithuania on this tragic event.

Yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas extended his sincere condolences and respect to the family of the soldier. The Minister stressed that the Lithuanian soldier had not perished in vain.

‘I pay honour to the soldier, who has participated in an important international mission to assure security to all of us. Lithuania shares this commitment with its partners and shall continue to respect it whither our and other countries’ assistance is required. Let me wish strength to all our soldiers, defending peace and security in international missions, and endurance to the civilians, who are working with them,’ said Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas.  

Presently, the situation in Chaghcharan is being stabilized. The security is bolstered by the incoming soldiers of NATO International Security Assistance Force.

The civilians serving in Ghor – Deputy Head of the Special Mission Marius Alekna, and Development Adviser Deimantė Bakšytė, were safely transferred to Kabul this morning.

Today Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas discussed the situation in Afghanistan with National Defence Minister Juozas Olekas.

Yesterday, at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, the Lithuanian flag was flying at half mast in remembrance of the perished soldier.