Top Polish officials visit troops in Ghazni [Afg]

Written by Justyna Bajer
Ghazni Provincial Reconstruction Team

Wednesday, 23 June 2010  GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Poland’s highest-ranking officials rallied more than 100 troops at Forward Operating Base Ghazni June 21, acknowledging their sacrifices and assuring them of the significance of their assignments.

Photo By Polish Combat Camera Adam Roik

“This mission is one of the most important instruments of my foreign policy,” said Radosław Sikorski, at helm of Polish foreign affairs. “Now Poland is a big-league member of NATO with a substantial say in its affairs.”

Among leaders visiting FOB Ghazni was the Minister of National Defense Bogdan Klich, Head of the National Security Bureau Stanisław Koziej and, most importantly, Bronisław Komorowski, the country’s interim president and apparently the winner of the first round of voting in the snap elections Sunday. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Campbell, Combined Joint Task Force 101 and Regional Command-East commander, also visited the FOB, which falls under his command.

Expressing his gratitude to all those who serve in Afghanistan, Komorowski said that Poland is to look closer into “the sense of operation,” but no rush decision should be expected on this matter. “There is an issue of Poland’s credibility,” he said in a short statement.

Poland currently has more than 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, the seventh largest contingent in the NATO-led force, up from 1,600 in the previous year.

 

More photos available here.