Italian Defense Committee Chairman visits RC-West

HERAT, Afghanistan (Apr. 02) ¬–¬¬ The Chairman of the Defense
Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, Edmondo Cirielli, accompanied by three committee members, visited Camp Arena yesterday.

The base hosts Regional Command West - the Italian-led NATO Command responsible for overseeing the International Security Assistance Force mission in the Western region of Afghanistan.

Brig. Gen. Alessandro Veltri, RC-West commander, welcomed Cirielli upon his arrival. Cirielli attrended a briefing detailing operations the Italian contingent of ISAF is participating in across the region. The briefing emphaized how the troops in the region are adhering to their assigned mandate.

After the brifing, the parliamentary delegation – accompanied by Veltri – went to Herat, where they took part in the inauguration ceremony of the 8th district police headquarters. The Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team, under the leadership of Col. Claudio Dei, led the project.

The structure is spread over two floors and covers nearly 1,000 sq. meters. The Italian Ministry of Defense provided nearly 85 thousand euro to fund the new construction. The building, built in just five months by local firms and labor, consists of a solid masonry outer fence, a guard station and twenty offices for the facility’s general services.

The Italian PRT facilitates reconstruction projects throughout Herat Province in order to stimulate employment, economic development of the area and trust toward the local political and religious institutions.

Several Afghan officials were present at the inaguration ceremony. Among others, the head of the Herat Technical Services Department, Ghulam Sarwer Khorasani, and the provincial Deputy Commander of the Afghan National Police, Col. Delewar Delewarsaha. The local officials thanked Veltri, "for the constant support of the Italian contingent of ISAF to the cause of security, the fruit of the optimal level of understanding and cooperation that exists between the provincial government institutions and the Regional Command West.”

Veltri said the project was extremely important.

“Any form of support will continue to be primarily addressed to the police for their effective and autonomous ability to guarantee security in the area,” the general explained. “We will provide an ever greater and concrete commitment to rebuilding and development to the satisfaction of the needs of the population. Everything will be accomplished through the full and complete involvement of local institutions, without invasiveness and with maximum respect for the cultures, customs and traditions .”

The visit ended with a greeting to Italian troops. Cirielli told them, on behalf of representatives of the national Parliament and its staff, he appreciates them "for the extraordinary work and sacrifice they’ve endured for the stability of the region and the defense of national interests from the threat of terrorism".