International Conference on the Role of Provincial Reconstruction Teams

A major international conference on the role of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) in stabilization, security, and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan will be co-hosted by the Foreign and Defense Ministries and the Senate of the Czech Republic; the embassies in the Czech Republic of Afghanistan, Denmark and the United States; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Prague Security Studies Institute on January 25-27, 2010. 

The conference will bring together military, civilian, and NGO experts from Afghanistan, NATO, and non-NATO ISAF partner countries involved in PRT operations to discuss experiences, best practices, and looming challenges. 

Associated Events to the Conference

Monday, January 25, 2010 | AFGHANISTAN TODAY

Opening of the photo exhibition “Help for Afghanistan” with photographer Iva Zímová.  Screening of a new Afghan feature film “The Roots” (in Dari with English subtitles) followed by a short discussion.

Venue:  American Center (Tržiště 13, Prague 1 – Malá Strana)
When:  6:00 pm – Afghan movie screening, 7:00 pm – Opening of the exhibition and discussion

Moderator: Milan Vodička (MF Dnes daily)
Speakers: Kahlid Maftoon (RFE/RL), Tomáš Mužík (Czech NGO People in Need), Dawn Liberi (USAID), Jaromír Štětina (Senate of the CR)

The program will be in English translated into Czech.  Free entrance.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 | RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN

Premiere of the new documentary about the Czech Provincial Reconstruction Team in Logar province entitled “Czech Aid under the Hindu Kush”, director Lukáš Roganský will be present.  In a following debate, PRT members will discuss about the challenges of the reconstruction of Afghanistan. 

Venue:  American Center (Tržiště 13, Prague 1 – Malá Strana)
When:   5:00 pm

Moderator:   Kahlid Maftoon (RFE/RL)
Speakers: Andrew Mann (PRT USA), Bohumila Ranglová (Czech PRT),  Türker Ari (PRT Turkey),  Marek Štys (Czech NGO People in Need)

The program will be in English translated into Czech.  Free entrance.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 | AFGHAN REALITY THROUGH THE EYES OF JOURNALISTS

Panel discussion of Czech journalists debating how the PRT concept and objectives, shown in a short documentary filmed by the Czech Defense Ministry, is reflected in the day-to-day reality they saw while visiting Afghanistan. Documentary exhibition: “Making the Future Safe” about humanitarian and development efforts in Afghanistan.

Venue: Hungarian Cultural Centre in Prague (Rytířská 27, Prague 1)
When:  5:00 pm

Moderator:  František Šulc (Týden weekly)  
Speakers:  Pavel Novotný (MF Dnes daily), Petr Blahuš (Právo daily), Jakub Szantó (Czech Television), David Koubek (Czech Radio), Michal Novotný (freelance photographer)

The program will be only in Czech.  Free entrance.

Thursday, January 28, 2010 | CHALLENGES FOR AFGHANISTAN (Brno)

Screening of the new Afghan documentary movie entitled “The Roots” (in Dari with English subtitles) followed by the discussion with Andrew Mann who spent two years in Afghanistan as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Embassy PRT Office in Kabul.   

Venue:  Moravian Library (Kounicova 65a, Brno)
When:   4:30 pm – film screening, 5:30 pm – discussion

The program will be in English translated into Czech.  Free entrance.

What do Czech journalists think about PRTs in Afghanistan?