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Catriona Laing

Catriona Laing

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe

Part of UK in Afghanistan

13th May 2013 Harare, Zimbabwe

Prime Minister of Denmark visits Helmand PRT

The Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt has visited Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah for an update on progress.

The visit was the premier’s second since she took office in 2011.

The Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt with Helmand PRT.
The Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt with Helmand PRT.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude and pride of the Danish military and civilian staff in Helmand. She stressed that Denmark will be engaged in Afghanistan after 2014 but with more focus on civilian and development efforts.

The premier visited the Danish troops based in Helmand (app 550), including special forces in Lashkar Gah as well as soldiers and envoys at Camp Price in Nahr-e Saraj and Camp Bastion.

She also met key representatives from the international community including the Commanding General RC South West Major General Walter Miller, Commander of Task Force Helmand Brigadier Rupert Jones of Britain and leaders from the PRT.

About Catriona Laing

I was born in Cardiff but brought up in South London. I studied economics and joined the civil service through the Government Economic Service after 2.5 years working for the…

I was born in Cardiff but brought up in South London. I studied
economics and joined the civil service through the Government Economic
Service after 2.5 years working for the Government of Botswana as an
infrastructure economist.
I was posted to Kenya to advise on the government’s development
programmes in East Africa, and then seconded to the United Nations
Mission in Somalia heading the UN Development Office.
I spent five years working for Prime Minister Tony Blair in his
strategy unit, and was later posted to head the DFID office in Sudan
running a £116 million programme and addressing the drivers of conflict.
Most recently I have been working for the Ministry of Justice to
establish the new international function with responsibility for
European and international justice.
I live with my partner – Clive Bates and our Sudanese dog – in
Balham. My hobbies are yoga, dog and mountain walking and cooking.

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