Assembly/AU/Dec.35(III) Rev.1 DECISION ON THE AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE (ASF) AND THE MILITARY STAFF COMMITTEE (MSC) Doc. EX.CL/110 (V) The Assembly: 1. TAKES NOTE of the recommendations of the meeting of Ministers of Defence held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 20 – 21 January 2004; 2. APPROVES the Policy Framework Document, on the establishment of the African Standby Force (ASF) and the Military Staff Committee (MSC); 3. APPEALS to the International Cooperating partners of the AU, in particular the G8, the EU and the UN, as well as the bilateral partners, to provide the support required to facilitate the establishment of the ASF and the MSC. In this respect, the Assembly REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to undertake the necessary consultations with all partners concerned; 4. ENDORSES the proposal by the Ministers of Defence and Security to establish, within the framework of Article 14.2 of the Constitutive Act of the AU, a specialized Technical Committee comprising Ministers responsible for Defence and Security of the AU, to work with the Peace and Security Council, in the implementation of the Common African Defence and Security Policy and in addressing the complex issues of peace and security on the continent; 5. REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to take all steps required for the implementation of the Policy Framework document.