Lithuanian soldiers discharged

VILNIUS 's Out of the three Lithuaniansoldiers serving in Afghanistan, two have chosen to cut there mission short and have beendischarged from the service. This decision is in concurrence with a decree byDefense Minister Juozas Olekas, with the decision regarding the third soldier'sfate still pending.

Chief of Defense of the LithuanianArmed Forces Lieutenant General Valdas Tutkus noted that a proposal was made tothe defense minister to discontinue military service contracts with thesoldiers in question. Two of the officers, Tutkus said, are already fired, withthe third currently on the sick-list, and his case will be decided upon hisreturn to service.

"I recommended removing them from service. Those, who are incapable ofadequate reactions to challenges arising during service, are not meant for themilitary. There are plenty of other professions", Tutkus said.

Olekas signed a degree Tuesday on the discontinuation of professionalmilitary service contracts with sergeant Nerijus Gylius and corporal SvajunasZaparackas. The case of Sergeant First Class Nerijus Klimavicius will bedecided when he returns to service after recovering from his illness, theDefense Ministry said in a release.

According to the release, the soldiers were dismissed in accordance withorganization of the National Defense System of the Republic of Lithuaniaand the Military Service Law as well as conclusions of the officialinvestigation launched over disobeying a legitimate decree.

The soldiers announced their decision to discontinue their mission in Afghanistanfollowing an open fire attack on the Lithuanian-ledProvincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) camp, in the Ghor province, leaving armysergeant Arunas Jarmalavicius fatally injured.

There are approximately 130 Lithuaniansoldiers currently serving in Ghor, with the PRT joining another 50 soldiersfrom Denmark, Croatia, Georgia, the US and Ukraine.

Lithuaniahas been heading a PRT since 2005. The main goal of the PRT is to help Afghanauthorities expand influence in the province, warrant security and formsuitable conditions for reconstructing the province.