PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Ambassador Joseph A. Mussomeli, assistant chief of Mission Kabul, Afghanistan, spent, March 10, visiting with members of Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir and getting a close look at different areas of the valley.
Mussomeli and several assistants met with Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis Velasquez, PRT Panjshir commander, James DeHart, U.S. State Department and PRT Panjshir director, and several other members of the PRT during the day-long visit.
After arriving by helicopter, the ambassador was shuttled to Forward Operating Base Lion where his group received a briefing from Velasquez and DeHart. They discussed current projects, funding and the cooperation between the military and civilian agencies at the PRT.
The team then traveled to the recently completed Golhabodin Shahid School in the Shutol District. A local contractor built the school which is used to teach boys through 12th grade, said Capt. Phillip Baker, PRT Panjshir Civil Engineer. The new school makes education more accessible for the students and teachers.
"The school has 16 classrooms and approximately 1,300 students," said Baker. "They used to have four sessions per day to accommodate everyone. Now, they're able to hold two sessions per day."
Abdul Rahman Kabiri, Panjshir province deputy governor, met the team at the tomb of Ahmad Shah Massoud, "Hero of the Afghan Nation," who was killed in 2001. The group said a prayer at the tomb and then toured the construction site of the Massoud Tomb Complex which when completed will include a Mosque, museum and library.
Kabiri said, through an interpreter, that the design of the complex has an intentional deep meaning. The exterior is designed to look powerful and strong just as Massoud was in life. The interior has a softer feel to represent Massoud's kindness.
The group concluded Mussomeli's visit by doing some shopping at the Rokha Bazaar. After making a few purchases, they headed back to Kabul via helicopter.
| Date Taken: |
03.10.2010 |
| Date Posted: |
03.16.2010 01:02 |
| Story ID: |
46710 |
| Location: |
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
189 |
| Downloads: |
134 |
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