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30/03/2007
Chancellor and Defence Secretary visit troops in Afghanistan
Chancellor Gordon Brown and Defence Secretary Des Browne are on a surprise visit to Afghanistan to visit British troops, senior commanders and civilian staff.
The Chancellor will announce that the UK will provide an additional £15 million for economic development, which will be used to support the Afghan government's National Solidarity Programme.
The programme helps Afghan communities to identify and address their own needs, which may include roads to link villages to markets, wells to deliver clean drinking water, or clinics to improve public health.
The Chancellor and the Defence Secretary will visit various sites in southern Afghanistan and meet with British troops and civilian troops and civilian staff, receive briefings from senior British and NATO commanders and hold discussions with Afghan leaders.
Speaking before arrival, Mr Brown said: "I am here today to listen to our troops. I want to thank them and pay tribute to the work they have been doing to help the Afghan people build a secure and democratic nation.
"No-one should be in any doubt about the United Kingdom's long-term commitment to help Afghanistan achieve this. Achieving security must be our first priority but, as we have learnt elsewhere, economic development will also be essential to long-term peace. So, the UK will continue to support development and reconstruction projects and work with the Afghan government to build a sustainable future."
The two ministers ate lunch with personnel at Camp Bastion, the main British base in the Helmand Province.
Mr Brown told the personnel: "It's good to see you. It's much appreciated, what you are doing."
The Chancellor announced an extra £400 million for military operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq in last week's Budget.
(KMcA/SP)
The Chancellor will announce that the UK will provide an additional £15 million for economic development, which will be used to support the Afghan government's National Solidarity Programme.
The programme helps Afghan communities to identify and address their own needs, which may include roads to link villages to markets, wells to deliver clean drinking water, or clinics to improve public health.
The Chancellor and the Defence Secretary will visit various sites in southern Afghanistan and meet with British troops and civilian troops and civilian staff, receive briefings from senior British and NATO commanders and hold discussions with Afghan leaders.
Speaking before arrival, Mr Brown said: "I am here today to listen to our troops. I want to thank them and pay tribute to the work they have been doing to help the Afghan people build a secure and democratic nation.
"No-one should be in any doubt about the United Kingdom's long-term commitment to help Afghanistan achieve this. Achieving security must be our first priority but, as we have learnt elsewhere, economic development will also be essential to long-term peace. So, the UK will continue to support development and reconstruction projects and work with the Afghan government to build a sustainable future."
The two ministers ate lunch with personnel at Camp Bastion, the main British base in the Helmand Province.
Mr Brown told the personnel: "It's good to see you. It's much appreciated, what you are doing."
The Chancellor announced an extra £400 million for military operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq in last week's Budget.
(KMcA/SP)
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