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 ".
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 ".
