PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXXVIII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUE The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 478th meeting held on 19 December 2014, was briefed by the Commission on the Report of the 2nd High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, held at the ministerial level, in Oran, Algeria, from 9 to 11 December 2014, with a view to Assisting Incoming African Members on the UN Security Council in Preparing to Address Peace and Security Issues on the Continent and adopted the following decision: Council, 1. Takes note, with appreciation, of the briefing provided by the Commission, on the Report of the 2nd High-Level Seminar and the subsequent statements made by Member States on the Report and its outcomes. 2. Hails the High-Level Seminar as one of the forums for enhancing coordination and promotion of African common positions relating to peace and security issues which are of primary interest to Africa and its people in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In this context, Council stresses the importance of the partnership between the AU and the UN, particularly its Security Council, which has the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security; 3. Recalls the Communiqué adopted at its 418th meeting held on 11 February 2014, in which Council endorsed the Conclusions of the 1st High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa, which was held from 8 to 10 December 2013, in Algiers, Algeria; 4. Underlines that the objective of this Seminar is to help in strengthening the role of the PSC in the promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent and equally, in the promotion and defense of common African positions on peace and security issues concerning Africa in the UN Security Council; 5. Commends the Government of Algeria, in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), for convening the 2nd High-Level Seminar and accepts the offer by the Government of Algeria to host the 3rd High-Level Seminar, in Oran, Algeria, towards the end of 2015; 6. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the 1 st High-Level Seminar, particularly the establishment of the A3 comprising of African Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in New York, and the participation of their counterparts in PSC meetings in Addis Ababa, as well as the formalization of the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York, as the Secretariat of the A3;