LITHUANIA WELCOMES TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR AFGHANISTAN’S SECURITY TO THE COUNTRY’S AUTHORITIES
Lithuania welcomes tstart of the transfer of the responsibility for Afghanistan’s security and governance to the country’s authorities in the first Afghan provinces, and expects further progress in this country and throughout the region.
“Lithuania participates in the process of transfer of responsibility to Afghanistan’s authorities and is preparing for the transition in the province of Ghor step-by-step. When we will finish the work that we started and Afghans will be ready to take over the responsibility in Ghor, we will be able to terminate the mission of the Provincial Reconstruction Team. We will work consistently in order to enable Afghans to govern their own country in the future as effectively as possible,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis says.At the summit of the NATO member states in Lisbon, Heads of State and Government took a decision to transfer the responsibility for Afghanistan’s security and governance to Afghans until 2014. The Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania has granted a mandate to implement the mission of the Provincial Reconstruction Team until 2013. Lithuania will not stay in Ghor longer than necessary, but the exact date will depend on the joint efforts of Lithuania, other NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) partners, and also on Afghans themselves.
On the other hand, the transfer of responsibility in Ghor will not mean the end of Lithuania’s presence in Afghanistan. Lithuania, along with the partners and as much as the country can afford, will contribute to the region’s stability and prosperity of the Afghan people. The most important aspect of this aid would be the training of Afghan National Security Forces and building the country’s administrative and institutional capacity.
The Lithuanian-led PRT in Ghor is a joint civilian-military mission, a part of NATO’s ISAF, which was launched in Ghor in summer 2005. The main task of the mission is to help Afghanistan’s administration extend authority in the province, ensure security and create appropriate conditions for the reconstruction of the province.
In 2010, the provincial reconstruction was allotted 2.4 million Litas (0.70 EUR) under the Development Cooperation Programme. 26 projects have been implemented.
Social media
