OTTAWA -- The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today welcomed the decision of the German Government to contribute personnel to the Canadian-led Staff and Language Training Centre (SLTC-A), in Kabul, Afghanistan.
"The Staff and Language Training Centre will build the capacity of the Afghan National Army, which will in turn help the Government of Afghanistan build a more secure environment and establish law and order throughout Afghanistan," said Minister MacKay. "The valuable personnel contribution offered by the German Government will help to ensure the Centre's success, and we are delighted to have the support of this key ISAF partner," he added.
"The Comprehensive Approach, also known as the whole-of-government approach, is the right way to achieve security, reconstruction and stability in Afghanistan," said the German Minister of Defence, Dr. Franz Josef Jung. "Our joint action with Canada on the Staff and Language Training Centre is a good example of this and shows how we can support the Afghan National Army to obtain self-supporting security in Afghanistan."
Work began on the SLTC-A this fall, with a view to establishing a fully operational centre in early 2010. The SLTC-A will provide junior staff training and English language instructor coordination and training to members of the Afghan National Army (ANA).
The SLTC-A will contribute to the long-term development of the ANA and will enable more effective interoperability between ANA and NATO-ISAF forces.
Canada and Germany are both major contributors to ISAF, and to NATO efforts to train and mentor the ANA. A well-led, well-trained, and well-equipped ANA is essential for the Government of Afghanistan as it assumes complete responsibility for national and provincial security, a key step in fostering governance and development.
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