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European Union delegation visits Manas Air Base

  • Published
  • By Maj. Damien Pickart
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan --  delegation of five representatives from the European Union visited Manas Air Base Feb. 21 to see firsthand how it supports the International Security Assistance Force mission and coalition partnership in Afghanistan.

"It was an honor to host Ambassador Morel and his team as they visited Manas for the first time and see how we support coalition forces deployed and transiting through here," said Col. Christopher Bence, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "We showed them the mobility mission and the operations of our Spanish and French partners serving here. Most importantly, we let them see how we take care of the coalition personnel coming and going from Afghanistan."

Led by Ambassador Pierre Morel, EU Special Representative to Central Asia, the delegation spent four hours at the air mobility hub where they received a wing mission briefing from Colonel Bence, enjoyed lunch with base and coalition leaders, and toured facilities that support the primary missions of aerial refueling and passenger and cargo processing. The group included representatives from France, Latvia, Bulgaria and Germany.

After the mission briefing, Ambassador Morel spoke with leadership about the purpose of their visit to the base and how it enhanced their understanding of its critical support to operations in Afghanistan.

"In Afghanistan, we must enhance cooperation to increase stability," said Ambassador Morel. "Today's visit has helped us see Manas has an important impact on the mission there. We are very interested in the future of Manas and in spite of the distance of EU countries from Central Asia, we share a common fight against threats including terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. The information shared with us today will be very beneficial to the 27 members of the European Union."

"It was good to meet with the EU representatives today and share with them our mission here," said Major Lionel Greven, commander of the local French Detachment. "We showed them our facilities and my Airmen were happy to see the delegates' interest in what we do."

The French Detachment provides aerial refueling for coalition aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and the ISAF mission with the French version of the KC-135, the C135FR. The Spanish Detachment provides support for Spanish forces assigned to ISAF as well as coalition forces when needed. The detachment of personnel and C-130 aircraft provide tactical intra-theater airlift and is specially equipped to support medical and casualty evacuation.

Currently, 41 nations have personnel supporting the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, including 25 of the 27 EU nations. Annually, thousands of ISAF personnel pass through Manas AB as they transit to and from Afghanistan. Their mission is to help bring about security and stability and foster development in Afghanistan by assisting the government to create the conditions for stabilization and reconstruction.

Before they departed, Colonel Bence presented each of the representatives with the 376th AEW coin and thanked them for taking time to visit the base."

"I think the visit went very well," said Colonel Bence. "The delegation seemed impressed with the quality of the facilities and morale here. They spoke highly of the exceptional support we provide to permanent party and transiting coalition forces."