Czech Troops Leave for Afghanistan on Reconstruction Mission

Text of report in English by Czech national public-service news agency CTK

Bochor, North Moravia, 11 February: The first part of the Czech provincial reconstruction team (PRT) left for the Afghan province of Logar today, Czech Deputy Defence Minister Martin Bartak said.

Bartak said the PRTs are one of the ways of achieving stability in the region.

“They will help to ordinary citizens, it is not a classical military mission,” Bartak said before the departure of 39 Czech troops.

The Czech PRT is to operate in Afghanistan minimally for three years.

After Lithuania and Hungary, the Czech Republic has become the third NATO newcomer with its own PRT.

The Czech Republic will send around 200 soldiers to Logar. The team will also include about 10 civilian experts in agriculture, construction and water management.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the work of the reconstruction teams may be complicated by bad infrastructure and lack of electricity.

The Czech Republic plans to widen its military presence in Afghanistan this year. Along with Logar, Czechs are still to run a field hospital in Kabul.

In southern Afghanistan, a special military police unit is to be engaged in combat in the province of Hilmand. A special forces unit from Prostejov, south Moravia, one of the elite groups of the Czech military, is also ready for a new mission in Afghanistan.

Originally published by CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0832 11 Feb 08.

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