Today's Date:

M. Jacques Chirac, President of the Republic, has decided on France's involvement in the forthcoming operations to assist Afghanistan, and the French Armed Forces' contribution to the fight against terrorism waged in coalition with the United States.

The participation, for the next six months, of the French contingent, of around 500 men, in the Kabul International Security Assistance Force is confirmed. In agreement with the Tajik authorities, the contingent will continue to receive logistical support from the French Air Force forward base in Dushanbe.

Concurrently, in accordance with the Afghan authorities' wishes, the training, already in progress, of two Afghan Army battalions will be pursued. 60 or so instructors are currently working with the first battalion.

In agreement with the Kyrghyz authorities, the deployment of fighter planes and tankers on Manas airbase will continue. Consultations have begun with a view to the relief of the French detachment by European partners.

Given the above, the naval air group will leave its current deployment zone at the end of the Loya Jirga on 20 June to return to Toulon at the beginning of July. This will mean the naval aviation group will have been in continuous operational deployment for over six months. A naval presence, including two frigates, will be maintained in the region./.