PRESS STATEMENT

The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 114th meeting, held on 10 March 2008, was briefed by Mrs. Carolyn McAskie, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Peace-building Support, on the United Nations (UN) peace- building architecture, which is made up of the Peace-building Commission, the Peace- building Fund and the Peace-building Support Office, as well as on the efforts being deployed by the UN in post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building.

Council recalled the communiqué of its 68th meeting held on 14 December 2006 and the outcome of its 98th meeting held on 8 November 2007, relating to cooperation between the AU and the UN in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction and Development.

Council expressed appreciation for the efforts deployed by the UN Peace- building Commission, in particular the focus that it has provided on African countries emerging from conflicts, namely Burundi, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

Council encouraged the Peace-building Commission to pursue and intensify its efforts in order to effectively contribute to the consolidation of peace in Africa and the recovery of countries emerging from conflicts. In this regard, Council appealed to the United Nations to increase the resources allocated to the Peace-building Commission to enable it to effectively discharge its responsibilities.
Council reiterated the importance of the AU Policy Framework on Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development, adopted by the Executive Council in Banjul, in June 2006, and the need to accelerate its implementation. In this respect, Council stressed the need for closer cooperation between the AU and the UN and appealed to the United Nations and its relevant organs to extend the necessary support to this end.

Council also stressed the need to explore practical modalities of cooperation between the AU and the UN in peace-building, including in the exchange of information and the conduct of joint fact-finding and other peace and security related missions on conflicts in Africa at their various stages.