PSC/AHG/Comm. (X) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE SOLEMN LAUNCHING OF THE TENTH MEETING OF THE PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), meeting in its tenth Session, at the Level of Heads of State and Government, on 25 May 2004, adopted the following communiqué: A. DECISION ON THE CRISIS IN THE DARFUR REGION OF THE SUDAN: The Peace and Security Council, 1. Reiterates its concern over the prevailing situation in Darfur, particularly the continuing humanitarian crisis and the reported human rights violations committed in that region since the beginning of the crisis; 2. Urges the Parties to fully and scrupulously implement the Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement signed on 8 April 2004, in N’djamena, Chad, between the Government of Sudan (GoS), on the one hand, the Sudan Liberation Movement / Army (SLM/A), and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), on the other; 3. Stresses the imperative need for the parties to strictly respect international humanitarian law and for GoS to ensure protection of civilian population. In this respect, Council recalls the statement by the Government of Sudan (GoS) to control and disarm militia and non-regular forces and urges the GoS to vigorously pursue this task; 4. Welcomes the announcement by the GoS of its decision to issue to the staff of the humanitarian agencies and organizations visas within 48 hours upon application, to suspend, for 3 months, the requirements for travel permits to Darfur, to facilitate access to the equipment required for humanitarian action in Darfur, as well as to facilitate the return of IDPs and refugees. Council further welcomes the decision of the President of the Republic of the Sudan appointing a High Level Independent Committee to investigate the reported human rights violations in Darfour ; 5. Welcomes the Agreement signed in N’djamena, GoS, in the one hand, the SLM and the JEM, on the convene a general conference of all representatives of economic and social situation in the Darfur with the definitive solution between the parties to the conflict; on 25 April 2004, between the other, reaffirming their will to Darfur to discuss the political, view to finding a global and 6. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Commission to take all steps deemed necessary to ensure an effective monitoring of the Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement, in particular through the deployment of an AU Observer Mission, with the required civilian component and, if necessary the protection element, to support the work of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC), based on the outcome of the AU-led Reconnaissance