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Minister of National Defence Ioan Mircea Pascu and the delegation membering chief of the General Staff General Dr. Mihail Popescu and the presidents of the two Commissions of Defence of the Romanian Parliament Sergiu Nicolaescu and Razvan Ionescu arrived this morning in Afghanistan, Kandahar Airport for a working visit to the 280th Infantry Battalion acting within the “Enduring Freedom” operation.
After the welcome ceremony the Romanian officials met US Col. William Garrett, commander of the 1st Brigade “Warrior”. Under his operational command the 405 Romanian military dislocated in this area are acting. The discussions were focused on the environment of security in the region and how the Romanians are fulfilling their missions. Colonel Garrett informed minister Pascu that although they are in the theater of operations only for two months they rapidly adapted to the environment and are acting according to the operational standards specific to such kind of missions. Minister of Defense thanked especially to the commander of “Warrior”Brigade for the solidarity the US soldiers showed at the end of the year in Afghanistan when two Romanian soldiers from the 151st Infantry Battalion were killed.
Then, the Romanian officials met our military during a short ceremony organized near Kandahar Airport. On behalf of the President of Romania Mister Pascu decorated the Fighting Colors of the 280th Infantry Battalion with “Virtutea Militara”Order (Military Virtue) in rank of knight with military signs, awarded by Presidential decree for the unit’s special results in international missions and exercises. General Dr. Mihail Popescu chief of the Romanian General Staff awarded each Romanian soldier with a badge for participation to “Enduring Freedom” mission in Afghanistan.
In the afternoon the Romanian delegation traveled to Kabul and visited CJTF “Phoenix” and Multinational Brigade (KMNB)from Kabul. They met Brigade General Mancino Thomas, CJTF commander and Brigade General Jocelyn Lacroix, KMNB commander.
After that the delegation will meet and have dinner with the Romanian military acting within ISAF and those from the reconstruction teams and “Ana Training” Detachment.
MoND Press Office