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Last weekend in Chaghcharan the 4th Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor Province (PRT-4), Afghanistan, was visited by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Deputy Commander Major General Gary Robison and Head of Lithuania’s Special Mission to Afghanistan Birutė Abraitienė. ISAF General and the Head of Special Mission were presented the PRT activities by the Commander of the Team Colonel Almantas Leika, Deputy Head of the Civil Mission Tomas Urbonas and the Development Advisor of the Civil Mission Heidur Kolsoe (Iceland). The guests also familiarized themselves with the equipment, weaponry and accoutrements of PRT Danish, Lithuanian and Croatian Mobile Communications and Observation teams, visited a military hospital.

In Chaghcharan G.Robison and Head of Special Mission B.Abraitienė met with the Governor of the province Shah Abdul Ahad Afzali and other important local officials; in Sango Bar they visited a micro-hydroelectric power plant, building of which was attended to by the PRT special mission. The General expressed admiration for the results achieved by Lithuanian-led PRT-4 in Ghor Province, and this was the greatest appreciation for Lithuanian soldiers.

“I am visiting the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor Province for the first time,” said the General. “And I am very happy that I had the possibility to come here. Two things in Lithuanian PRT impressed most of all: the first, the close cooperation between the military and civil mission units, as it is very helpful to carry out tasks. Military operations alone cannot guarantee the success of provincial reconstruction mission. The second, which surprised me pleasantly, is the excellent cooperation between the military representatives from different countries at an international level. In Lithuanian PRT I met soldiers from Denmark and Croatia who told me that they collaborated closely carrying out tasks in Ghor Province,” said Major General Gary Robison.

According to B.Abraitienė, in Kabul PTR is rendered diplomatic and political assistance in every possible way, seeking to draw attention of Afghanistan’s government to Ghor Province.

“The Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan works for the sake of the people of Afghanistan in Ghor Province, not for itself. It strives to stabilize the situation in the region and reconstruct the province. For this purpose Lithuanian-led PRT cooperates with different partner counties: the USA, Denmark, Croatia and Iceland. We are glad to see the excellent cooperation between the military and civil units of Lithuanian PRT, when the same goals are sought in different ways, representing one country. It is crucial for the people of Afghanistan to understand that with our assistance and help of other 25 PRTs working in Afghanistan they can shape the future of their country, the more especially as Lithuania has allocated four times more finances to Ghor Province this year than the previous year,” spoke Head of Lithuania’s Special Mission to Afghanistan B.Abraitienė.

Now in Afghanistan the 4th shift of Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor Province is participating in the mission of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The team consist mostly of National Defence Volunteer Forces, half of them are volunteers. One of major tasks of Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team is to help to consolidate the influence of the government of Afghanistan in the province, ensure security and create appropriate conditions under which the province could be reconstructed.