On December 3 and 4 an exhibition of photography of local Afghan photographers "New Afghanistan through the eyes of its people" was opened at the base of Chaghcharan PRT. The exposition was open for local people throughout the week. On the weekend the exposition was available for Lithuanian peacekeepers and their colleagues from other countries on the initiative of Head of the Civilian Element Eugenijus Vaicekauskas and PRT Commander Col Eligijus Senulis.
"It is notable that the exhibition is a result of local photographers' creative work, therefore it should be really appreciated both by local and international community. No foreign photographer would be able to produce better pictures because you are the best at feeling and knowing your country. It is really wonderful that Afghanistan is improving not only from security but also from artistic perspective, and is gradually becoming more independent", said Commander PRT Col Eligijus Senulis in the opening of the exhibition.
The exposition is collected from the works of the photographers of the THIRD EYE Agency in Kabul, Afghanistan. 14 photographers of whom two are women supported by the US Embassy and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation travelled across Afghanistan from the beginning of this year taking pictures of landscapes, nature, local people, their customs, daily life, infrastructure, towns and settlements, and vegetation of the country. The aim of the exhibition is to reveal in photography the true landscape, culture, inhabitants and customs of Afghanistan. Just like it is seen by the natives.
Ghor is the fourth province to display the exhibition. According to the photographers who travel together with the exhibition, ten more provinces are planned to be toured before next summer. One of the young photography talents is Maysam Shaheen from Ghor province, currently he attends on the secondary schools of Chaghcharan.
According to one of the initiators of the campaign photographer Nasym Seyamak, the exhibition is also planned to be demonstrated abroad. "USA, Australia, UK and India are already very interested in the exhibition and are inviting us. It is possible, that we will display in Lithuania too", said the photographer. N. Seyamak said he was very glad that PRT personnel used their off-duty moments to attend the exposition.
At the moment the 14th rotation of Lithuanians serves in Ghor. The shift is formed by the 5th Territorial Unit of the Vytis Military District of the National Defence Volunteer Forces. Military contingent of PRT-14 is commanded by Col Eligijus Senulis, Commander of the 5th Territorial Unit of the Vytis Military District of the National Defence Volunteer Forces.
Staff of the Lithuanian-led PRT in Chaghcharan includes Georgia's, Japan's, US, Poland's, Finland's, and Ukraine's representatives alongside Lithuanian military and civilian personnel.
PIO for PRT-14 1st Lt Tomas Pakalniškis
Pictures by 1st Lt Tomas Pakalniškis
The exhibition is also available at: www.3rdeye.af
