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On 11 April at the meeting with Governor of Afghanistan’s Ghor province Abdullah Haiwad in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis noted that Lithuania supported the Governor’s efforts to attract attention of Afghanistan’s central government to Ghor province.“Fully aware that primary responsibility for ensuring security and development of the provinces lies with the country’s central government, we welcome and support active efforts of A.Haiwad to attract attention of Afghanistan’s authorities to Ghor province,“ - Foreign Minister A.Ažubalis said.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister encouraged all the administration of Ghor province to get actively involved in the process of transfer of responsibility to the country’s authorities.

The Governor thanked Lithuania for the support to the local authorities in ensuring security and stability in Ghor province, for assistance to economic and social development of Ghor province and Lithuania’s active contribution to the coordination of international community’s activities in Ghor.

A.Haiwad noted that complex support to Afghanistan’s Ghor province contributed to the consistent creation of prosperity for the whole country. Foreign Minister assured that Lithuania would continue development cooperation activities, focusing on the strengthening of administrative capacity, rural development and ensuring health protection.

A.Haiwad acquainted Foreign Minister with the priorities of provincial reconstruction and development. At the meeting, officials discussed the preparation for the process of transfer of responsibility for stability and governance to the Afghan authorities in Ghor province, and further cooperation perspectives between Lithuania and Ghor province.

The agenda of the visit of the Governor of Ghor province to Lithuanian includes meetings with Lithuanian Minister of National Defence and Minister of Agriculture, members of the Seimas (Parliament), representatives from the Lithuanian Business Confederation | ICC Lithuania and Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania, visits to National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art and Lithuanian agricultural companies. On 13 April at 3:30 p.m., A.Haiwad will give a public lecture “Ghor Province and the Ghurid Dynasty – the History and Future” at the Senate Hall, Vilnius University.

The Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) that was launched in Ghor in summer 2005. The main task of the mission is to help the Government of Afghanistan to extend authority in the province, ensure security and create appropriate conditions for provincial reconstruction. Representatives from Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Japan, Poland, Ukraine and the U.S.A. serve along with the Lithuanian military and civilian personnel in Ghor PRT camp, Chaghcharan.