Decision on the Operationalization of the Peace and Security Council

DECISION ON THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

The Executive Council,

1. WELCOMES the entry into force of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union on 26 December 2003, and APPEALS to those countries that have not yet done so, to ratify the Protocol;

2. RECALLS decision ASS/AU/Dec. 16 (II) on the Operationalization of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, in which the 2^nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Maputo, from 10-12 July 2003, inter-alia, emphasized the importance of the early entry into force of the PSC Protocol, and therein authorized the Executive Council to take all the necessary steps to operationalize the PSC in the event the Protocol enters into force before its next Ordinary Session, to be held in July 2004, in Addis Ababa;

3. CONGRATULATES the new members of the PSC;

4. TAKES NOTE of the Report of the First Session of the Peace and Security Council, held on 16 March 2004, of the draft Rules of Procedure it had submitted for the consideration and adoption of the Executive Council;

5. ADOPTS on behalf of the Assembly of the Union, the Rules of Procedure of the PSC in conformity with the relevant provision of the PSC Protocol;

6. DECIDES that the PSC should proceed with its work immediately;

7. REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to take all the necessary steps required to fully operationalize all the structures provided for in the PSC Protocol;

8. RECOMMENDS that a solemn launch of the PSC take place at the level of Heads of State and Government, and that the proposed date for such an occasion should be 25 May 2004 - Africa Day - following consultations; furthermore, that invitations to this event be extended to the Secretary General of the United Nations and Members of the United Nations Security Council.