News

On 16-17 October, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas paid a visit to Chaghcharan (Afghanistan) and met with the authorities of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in the Ghor Province, representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the Government of Japan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the EU Police Mission (EUPOL). Ways to enhance the coordination of reconstruction activities in the province were discussed at these meetings.

The Minister also met with the administration of the Ghor Province, leaders of the local community, visited the objects of development cooperation projects that are financed by Lithuania: a training centre for civil servants, library and a computer class. The Minister was informed about the planned projects of reconstruction and expansion of the hospital in the Ghor Province. Minister V.Ušackas also took part in the opening of an exhibition of drawings by pupils of the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art, and presented Lithuanian fairy tale books in the Dari language to the public library that was established by Lithuania.

The Minister made a very positive assessment of the work of the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team.

According to Minister V.Ušackas, Lithuanian men and women, who serve in Afghanistan, directly contribute to the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan and therefore provide a possibility for the Government of Afghanistan to reconstruct its country and prevent the spread of terrorism throughout the world.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy emphasized that it was necessary to strengthen the civilian element for the reconstruction of the province, because, in Minister’s words, the success in Afghanistan will be determined not by the military, but by the civilian efforts to reconstruct the country.

After discussions with the representatives of the local people and with members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Minister V.Ušackas identified three priority areas, which required the greatest attention. Namely, these are: the support to the implementation of infrastructure projects, agriculture and strengthening of administrative capacities.

In the Ghor Province, Minister V.Ušackas was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Anne E. Derse and Greek Ambassador Constantine Catsambis, and Members of the Seimas (Parliament) Egidijus Vareikis and Valentinas Mazuronis