The official negotiations on handing over Camp Pannonia in Pol-e Khomri, Afghanistan have started on January 23. “We have reached another stage in handing over responsibility for security, which is nothing else but the fourth phase of transition”, Commander Col. Antal Sipos stressed at the press conference.

At the negotiation, Hungary was represented by a committee led by Col. Antal Sipos, the commander of the 13th rotation of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT-13) as well as by Dr. József Nyerki, the ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the Afghan side, a nine-member body led by Said Basir Ahmad, the president of Baghlan Province Audit Office was present, which included several high-ranking office heads. During the two-hour negotiation the partners discussed the tasks related to the handover of the camp, which is due in the spring of 2013. They reached an agreement on maintaining regular contact and on the details of cooperation. After the overview of several items on the agenda, they made a tour of the camp.

At 2:30 p.m. local time, a press conference was held in the PRT camp, at which Col. Antal Sipos announced three important events to the representatives of the local media. He told them that the HUN PRT would hand over its tasks related to the security and development of Baghlan Province to the provincial government and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) stationed in the province. “We have reached another stage in handing over responsibility for security, which is nothing else but the fourth phase of transition”, the commander stressed.

Antal Sipos added that “of course, on finishing our job here we must take care of the fate of the camp too, so you are the ones who will make a decision about it, which I will respect. I have started negotiations with the designated committee in the province. The people of Andarab Valley submitted a request to the PRT for building two bridges in the valley; we naturally supported it, and have implemented it together with the US CERP CAT team”, the commander of the PRT stressed among other things.

“I would like to take this opportunity to hand over the just mentioned bridges to Mr. Abdul Kadim, the deputy governor of the province”, Col. Antal Sipos added.

(HUN PRT-13 Public Affairs NCO)