Defense Minister Teodor Melescanu and Chief of the General Staff, Admiral Ph.D. Gheorghe Marin visited Tuesday, December 4, in Lagman base, the Romanian military of the 33rd Mountain Battalion Posada in mission in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

The MoD leaders met the military from Arges and the military and civilian personalities from Zabul Province Governor Delbar Arman, the Police commander, Colonel Mohammad Yakoub, the commander of the 2nd Brigade of the Afghani National Army, Brigade General Abdul Razaq and the US principal adviser, Colonel Karl Slaughenhaupt.

Governor Delbar Arman expressed the necessity to exist an increased number of military in Zabul Province, for the security in the region and to create the conditions for reconstruction and development.

During a short ceremony, Minister Teodor Melescanu handed the Badge of Honor of the Romanian Armed Forces for special merits in the fulfillment of missions, to Lieutenant Nicolae Grigorescu and Senior Sergeants Marius Enescu and Mircea Solomon from the 33rd Mountain Battalion.

The Defense Minister, Teodor Melescanu and the Chief of the General Staff, Admiral Ph.D. Gheorghe Marin paid since Sunday, December 2, a three days working visit in Afghanistan where they met the Romanian military deployed in this theater of operations.

The MoD leaders addressed to all the personnel their congratulations and wishes of success in their activity occasioned by the National Day of Romania. This occasion, the military presented the events they organized for the celebration of December 1st, the National Day. During their meeting, in all the areas of deployment, the Romanian military reported to the MoD leaders the problems they are confronting with in the theater of operations.

MoD Press Office