By German Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Winkler
GCMC Public Affairs
Dr. Franz-Josef Jung addresses the students
of the PASS course April 30.
(Photo by Karlheinz Wedhorn)
GARMISH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany - German Minister of Defense Dr. Franz-Josef Jung discussed the mission in Afghanistan following the recent NATO summit with students at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies April 30.
Speaking to better than 154 students from 45 nations attending the Program for Advanced Security Studies here, Dr. Jung discussed why Germany's role in Afghanistan continued to be crucial now and into the future.
"We are participating in operations in Afghanistan to protect citizens in Germany, Europe and beyond. By intervening militarily, the international community has succeeded in depriving the terrorists of their operational headquarters and safe havens in Afghanistan," he said.
"It is the goal of the international community to secure this success long term and to contribute to creating a stabile and functioning Afghanistan," the minister added.
Dr. Jung said the German armed forces contribute much to operations in Afghanistan. German forces, he said, are the third largest contingent in International Security Assistance Force. Germany has provided quick-reaction forces in the northern part of Afghanistan, where it is also the lead nation in the region. Germany also runs two regional provisional reconstruction teams. Germany's armed forces are also involved in training Afghan Security Forces.
Teamed with the US and other nations, Germany's efforts are turning Afghanistan into a success story. "The terror regime of the Taliban has been ended," Dr. Jung said. "Among other things, education for children, upon whom the future of Afghanistan rests, has profited from this. 3,500 new schools have been built; 30,000 new teachers have been trained. The number of school children has increased five fold to approximately 6.5 million."
However, the work is not ended, according to the German defense minister, highlighting valuable US work in Afghanistan, noting troops increases and more funding.
"This is without a doubt an important contribution to securing the future of Afghanistan," he said. "This modified U.S. strategy significantly strengthens the reconstruction component and dovetails with our German stabilization approach, which places the civilian aspect of our operations in Afghanistan at the center of all our endeavors."
Dr. Jung said the consequences of failure in Afghanistan rang clear.
"If we fail in Afghanistan, this will be a problem for everyone, not only the alliance. That is why it is so important that all countries and international organizations work very closely together to achieve over-all success in this very complex civil-military mission," he said. "NATO is making a decisive contribution in the field of protection and security and is proving its political will and determination in the process."
Following the speech, Dr. Jung presented the Bundesverdienstkreuz, or the Order of Merit for the Federal Republic of Germany, to Marshall Center director Dr. John P. Rose. Dr. Rose received the Great Cross of Merit for his work fostering the partnership between Germany and America at the Marshall Center while carrying out its international mission.
"I'm honored, but this award is not about me. Rather, it is a testament to our German-American Partnership and our international team," Dr. Rose said.
