Head of Lithuania's military academy Gintaras Bagdonas appointed to lead Afghanistan mission

Bagdonas confirmed the fact to BNS on Thursday. He will replace Justinas Bakūnas as of late July.

"I received the proposal, agreed, and I am very glad. I know that my appointment has already been approved. I am convinced that I can be very useful because of my work experience and education," Bagdonas told BNS.

The head of Lithuania's special mission in Afghanistan is appointed by the order of the minister of foreign affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the report. Mindaugas Lašas, head of the Public Relations Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, says the foreign affairs minister has not signed the order yet.

Bagdonas said he could not say exactly when he would assume his new position in Afghanistan but added that it might be in the second half of the summer.

Sources have told BNS Bagdonas will leave the military academy in late June.

Currently, about 250 Lithuanian troops serve in the NATO-led International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) in Afghanistan, namely, in the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and the police operational training and interaction group in Ghor, air forces training team in Kandahar province and special operations squadron in southern Afghanistan.