VICE-PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION FOR RELATIONSHIP WITH AFGHANISTAN PINO ARLACCHI VISITS REGIONAL COMMAND WEST

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 05) – Pino Arlacchi, Euro Parliament Member and Vice-President of European Parliament Delegation for relationship with Afghanistan, has visited Camp "Arena", the base that houses the Italian soldiers in the ISAF mission in western Afghanistan.
Mr Arlacchi, back from a series of meetings in Kabul with the highest Afghan government and ISAF authorities aimed at drafting a report on the new EU strategy for Afghanistan, was greeted on arrival by the Commander of the Regional West Command - Brigadier General Alessandro VELTRI - and met the commanders of Task Forces present in the Theater with whom he attended a briefing on operational activities of the Regional Command Wes t is carrying out in adherence to the mandate received.

"The commitment of the Italian contingent in Afghanistan - said General VELTRI at the meeting - continues with determination. The growing level of confidence achieved by our contingent is largely very significant commitment for safety, contributing to the formation, training and mentoring of local security forces. All this is an indispensable condition for consolidating the structure of the Afghan government. This activity sees the Italian Army, Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza, harmonizes well with the equally significant work of reconstruction and development in favour of the population".
Mr Arlacchi was then traveled to Camp "Vianini, the seat housing the Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team, under the command of Colonel Claudio Dei, which - together with a civilian component of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Development Cooperation - has the task of supporting the process of rebuilding the province of Herat by stimulating employment, economic development area and trust in local political and religious institutions.
During his stay in Herat, the politician he had met the main provincial authorities including the Governor of Herat, Mr. Yusuf Nuristani, the Vice President of the Provincial Council, Mr. Azizullah Najaf and the Chief of Counter-narcotics Department, Dr. Ghulam Daqiq.
The governor of Herat expressed to Mr Arlacchi his deep gratitude to the Italian contingent, for what they are doing to support development and reconstruction in the Country and, more generally, for the the Afghan people who, thanks to the constant presence of the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and ISAF, has an ever increasing level of security.
Thereafter, the MEP has carried out an inspection of major projects under construction and those already completed by the Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team, in which have aroused particular interest the women's prison and the pediatric hospital of Herat.
"The Italian contingent in Herat - said Mr Arlacchi at the end of the visit - is practicing by long time what ISAF and the International Community are planning to do for all of Afghanistan in the coming years. The Italian winning formula is security towards the development and not only counterinsurgency. A substantial part of the insurgents are, in fact, mafia groups that extort the people and traffick drug. Fighting them means to give to Afghanistan the opportunity to exercise their fundamental rights and contribute to the development of investment and democracy in the Country ".

BRAND NEW ROADS TO REACH HERAT AIRPORT

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 05) – This morning, as part of activities in support of reconstruction and development of the province of Herat, the Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team, which operates under the Regional Command West - The Italian-led ISAF command, based Brigade "Sassari", opened two brand new roads to reach the Herat airport.
The project, costing about forty thousand euros, concerned the construction of two asphalted roads, total length of about four hundreds meters, complete with road signs and installation of barriers in order to increase passive safety measures.
"The creation of these two new roads - said the Commander of Regional Command West, Brigadier General Alessandro VELTRI - will regulate the traffic in the direction of the two terminal, civil and military, of the airport, and will facilitate entry and exit procedures of passengers traveling to the international airport of Heart, increasing efficiency and security.".
The inauguration ceremony was attended, in addition to General VELTRI, by the governor of Herat, Mr. Yusuf NURISTANI, by Mr Pino ARLACCHI (Vice-President of Delegation for relationship between European Parliament and Afghanistan) the Commander of the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Colonel Claudio DEI, the Chief of Staff of 1st Brigate Afghan National Army, many other local authorities and elders.
“Today, said the Governor of Heart at the end of ceremony, represents not just another confirmation of the actual closeness of the Regional Command West to the needs of the population, but it marks the first important step towards an even more ambitious project that aims internationalization of the Heart Airport.”

(AECID) short time training workshop for capacity building of plant protection field worker

Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) has start a short time training workshop for capacity building of plant protection field worker with collaboration of Badghis Agriculture and livestock Department (MAIL).Officials of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) say, this training will be continued for four days and 50 people of AECID and MAIL have participate.Ahmadullah Andar in charge of AECID plant protection section says, in this workshop we will speak concerning the controlling of Locust, Sun pest, Melon's fly, plants leech and making sulfur for the controlling of apples and quince trees disease. Mrs. Andar said, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation of (AECID) has different educational program in this part last year but there is one case addition about the controlling of apples and quince disease, which is added in this year.He adds, this training workshop has going on by the Professor Habibi one of the Agriculture Faculty of Herat University and numbers of AECID profession people. In charge of plant protection of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) added, that AECID has worked in District of Qadis , Abkamri ,Muqor and Qale-Now city during two last years and trained 23000 of farmers.In the same, time Hafiullah Benish Director of Badghis Agriculture and Livestock Department, beside the appreciate of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) says, AECID has done important activities about the Agriculture section during two or three years ago .Mrs.Benish that spHe adds, from now on, Badghis Agriculture and Livestock Department effort of supervision activities of all entities that have close collaboration with DAIL.Director of Agriculture and Livestock Department of Badghis province asked from the in charges of Agriculture Section of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), that they must put in the picture Badghis DAIL about their future activities.

ITALIAN SOLDIERS OF TASK FORCE CENTER ON AID FOR THE POPULATION TO DEMINE AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 03) – In recent days, during an activity aimed at controlling the territory in the area of Zeerko Valley, the Italian soldiers of Task Force Center, based 1st Regiment Bersaglieri, received a request of help from the local population which had been prevented freedom of movement due to an improvised explosive device placed along the main road that leads to Ghawdal, a village about ten kilometers from Shindand.When the italian soldiers got there, put the area in safety and, thanks to the intervention of specialized structures IEDD (Improvised Explosive Devices Disposal) of the 5th Engineer Regiment of Brigade "Sassari" defused the device and restore the viability. The chief of the village thanked Colone l Francesco Maria CERAVOLO, Commander of the Italian Task Force Center, for the valuable and timely intervention by which it was possible to avert the loss of life among the inhabitants of Ghawdal.This event confirms the increasing level of trust of the population in the soldiers of ISAF Regional Command West and the close cooperation between them to increase the crucial process of stabilization in the area.

TASK FORCE SOUTH OF REGIONAL COMMAND WEST RENOVATES FARAH ORPHANAGE

Italian soldiers of TF South renovate Farah Orphanage structures and built new suitable sports areas

Soldiers of Task Force South, based 152° Regiment of Brigade “Sassari”, have become promoters of an important humanitarian initiative to assist orphan children in the province of Farah.

MILITARY OF TASK FORCE NORTH FOR THE AFGHAN PEOPLE

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 03) – In recent days, the soldiers of Task Force North, based 151st Brigade Infantry Regiment "Sassari", commanded by Colonel Sossio ANDREOTTOLA, went to Bechaghi, a village about 20 kilometers southeast of Herat, where to carry out a distribution of humanitarian aid consisting of blankets, food, clothing, materials for personal hygiene and many school kits to over 1500 families residing in the area. The activity was carried out with Afghan National Police officers and with the strong support of the Governor of the District of Gozarah Engineer Zayadin SHARIFY and the

chief of the village, Mr. Aqa Mostafa JAN, attended at the presence of numerous local elders. Engineer Zayadin SHARIFY, thanked Colonel Andreottola "for the significant donation, the result of common purpose among local government institutions and the Regional Command West in seeking to meet the primary and concrete needs of families most in need of district."

TOP STUDENTS RECOGNIZED IN FARAH CITY DISTRICT III GIRLS SCHOOL

The current number one score for the Afghan national college entrance exams was earned by a student from Farah Province, and the local government, in partnership with coalition forces, is making great strides to acknowledge their students’ hard workRecently, members of the Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) attended an award ceremony at the Farah City District III Girls School to recognize 120 top performers.“There are two main exams each year and an exam at the end of every month. That is how we choose our top students” said Homarair Iubi, the headmaster for the Farah City District III Girls School.The PRT Commander, U.S. Navy Cmdr. Lawrence Vasquez, first visited the school early last month on Jan. 4, upon Homarair’s invitation. The school desperately needs a new building as it currently houses some of its 1,400 female students in 17 tents that are pitched in the courtyard.Excited about their visitors, the girls scrambled from their tents and classrooms and quickly lined up. To open the ceremony, Cmdr. Vasquez said a few words and then Homarair began reading off the names.One-by-one each girl called made her way to the stairs of the building, a makeshift stage for the event, and received a congratulatory kiss on the cheek from the headmaster and a backpack of school supplies from the PRT Civil Affairs Team.All of the girls that were asked what their favorite subject was replied, “Dari”. With the literacy rate in Farah Province only at 10 percent, it is encouraging to see so many students enrolled in just one of the 265 schools within the province and to also hear them say they like language class. With the help of the Farah Province Director of Education, Mr. Attiqullah, the PRT hopes to facilitate the construction of a larger facility for the students of the District III School and for the future of Afghanistan. There are currently 29 schools under construction in the province.

FIRST “EXPLOITATION TRAINING” COURSE IN FAVOUR OF AFGHAN BORDER POLICE

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 01) – This morning, in a meaningful ceremony held in Camp "Arena", the base that houses the Regional Command West - the multinational and joint forces Italian-led NATO command, based Brigade "Sassari" - Brigadier General Alessandro VELTRI, Commander of the Regional Command West, and General Noorzai MAHLAM, Regional Commander of the Afghan Border Police, have symbolically begun the 1st "Exploitation Training" Course.

The course is based on theoretical and practical lessons held by the staff of the Italian branch of C-IED (Counter - Improvised Explosion Device) in favor of the Afghan Border Police staff about the correct procedures to be taken against this threat.In one week ten Officers and NCOs Afghan Border Police, will learn the techniques to collect, survey and exibit evidence at the occurrency of a possible discovery or explosion of one or more improvised explosive devices or of parts that can be traced back to them.“Through this important initiative of the Regional Command West - explained the General MAHLAM - agents of the Border Police will be able to educate their staff in order to face independently, appropriately and effectively way, the main insidious threat that insurgents perpetrate against regional Security Forces and ISAF”.General Veltri, meeting the agents and their instructors pointed up that "the today’s activity - originated from a request of the Afghan Regional Commander Border Police - is part of the initiatives that the Italian contingent constantly promote and conduct to consolidate the already excellent working relationships with local Security Forces and to provide them necessary support to increase their capacity for autonomous action to prevent terrorist or criminal threat, or related to the smuggling phenomenon” “This course complements - continued General VELTRI - as the Italian Army soldiers, along with Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza, are effectively accomplishing for all the Afghan Security Forces in training and operative activities with their diuturna and effective action of mentoring”.General MAHLAM concluded thanking General VELTRI for "the timely fulfillment of the request to confirm the support, continuous and effective, that the Italian military contingent of ISAF to provide security in the sensitive area due to which police forces operate in Afghanistan"."A support - has concluded the senior officer - that the Afghan Border Police forces will be able to repay with a growing presence in the territory, which is crucial for the stabilization of the area for the benefit of the population".

Four NATO soldiers killed

Four NATO led ISAF servicemembers have been killed in separate incidents of violence in southern and western Afghanistan, the alliance and officials said on Monday

Two NATO troops were killed in an indirect fire attack in western Afghanistan today, NATO said in a brief statement issued here.But it released no further details

In another operation, an ISAF servicemember was killed in a small-arms attack in southern Afghanistan today, the statement said

A fourth NATO soldiers from the US was killed in a suicide attack in Kandahar City, capital of southern Kandahar province. The attacker in a car targeted a NATO convoy early today, killing four civilians and a US soldier, officials said

COMPLETED TWO NEW PROJECT FOR EDUCATION AND GOVERNANCE IN HERAT PROVINCE

Among the activities carried out in support of the Afghan authorities in education and support to governance, two important new projects were completed in Herat province by the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Regional Command West, the Italian-led ISAF command based Brigade "Sassari