Changeover of Latvia's political advisor in Afghanistan

 

On 27 May 2008, the Third Secretary of The Americas and Caribbean States Division at the Latvian Foreign Ministry's Second Bilateral Relations Department, Rudolfs Bremanis, is heading to the NATO Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Maiman, Faryab province, to replace Peteris Veits, Latvia's previous political advisor in Afghanistan. The new Latvian political advisor will remain at Maiman's PRT from 27 May to 27 October.

Working in the province of Faryab, the Latvian advisor's tasks will include analysis of the local political situation, consulting the Commander of the Latvian contingent and the Norwegian-led Maiman PRT Commander, advising representatives of the local administration, co-operation with Afghan non-governmental organisations in project preparation and the attraction of financial funding from abroad, and providing strategic advice for Latvia's co-ordinated and comprehensive assistance to Afghanistan. In accordance with the Development Co-operation Policy Plan, the political advisor will continue the leadership and supervision of Latvia-financed civil assistance projects to Afghanistan. With the new political advisor commencing his work, it has been envisaged that more emphasis will be placed on the development of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Afghanistan as well.

The work of the political advisor in Maiman is one of Latvia's initiatives to contribute to the stabilisation, reconstruction and economic development processes in the territory where Latvian National Armed Forces have been deployed. The guidelines of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission provide for the promotion of security, governance and development in Afghanistan. In the fields of governance and development the ISAF possesses the required civil expertise, which is why, in addition to the military contingent, NATO member states also deploy civil advisors and sector experts in Afghanistan .

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