Minister of Defense, Teodor Melescanu and Lieutenant General Sorin Ioan, deputy chief of General Staff will participate Wednesday, August 8, at 11.30 hours in the return home ceremony of the 812th Infantry Battalion Sopimii Carpatilor from Bistrita who participated in ISAF III mission in the Afghani theater of operations.

The main missions, developed between January and July 2007, have been focused on the security and stability in Zabul province, cooperation with the Afghani National Security Forces (ANSF), support of ANSF for the routine patrol on the borders, intervention for the support of the Afghani National Police (ANP) in the patrol missions in order to ensure the free communications routes. The military from Bistrita performed 459 missions of patrol and 154 missions of security of the alternative routes.

During their mission they maintained the permanent dialogue with the provincial leaders, the civilian authorities and the tribal leaders, they supported the Provincial Reconstruction Team's operations, the development of the Afghani governmental structures, the increase of projects and programs of development in Zabul area and according to their means and capability, they had CIMIC missions.

For their activity in this mission, on April 29, the commander of the RC South, General Ton Van Loon awarded the Romanian military with NATO-ISAF Medal.

MoD Press Office