Norwegian Minister of Defence visits Norwegian soldiers in Afghanistan

Faremo talked with the Head of Defence and with soldiers and officers on the military bases. The visit took place on the same day as the burial of Norwegian Colonel Lieutenant Siri Skare, who lost her life in Mazar-e-Sharif on 1st of April 2011.

The Minister thanked the soldiers for their efforts and for handling missions that involve high risks, when working in Afghanistan. Faremo also presented a new report from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment which shows that the civilians in Faryab have a positive experience of the security situation in the area. The Minister said that, even if the number of security related events increases and that the soldiers experience that the situation is getting more difficult, the civilians experience that the security situation is improving. This means that the job that the soldiers do gives results, Faremo said.
 
Faremo was introduced to how the Norwegian soldiers cooperate closely with other nations in order to achieve best possible results. Norway and Latvia have for many years been working together in Meymaneh.

The Minister also emphasized that the Norwegian people supports the army, and thinks that the Norwegian soldiers should remain in Afghanistan until the situation has stabilized. She referred to a report showing that 60 per cent of all Norwegians think that the Norwegian soldiers’ presence in Afghanistan increases the security for the Afghan people.



Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Grete Faremo and National Contingent Commander Anne Rydning. Photo: Asgeir Spange Brekke, Forsvaret