PSC/MIN/COMM.1(CCCLXXXVII) Page 2 7. Welcomes the recent visits by the AUHIP to South Sudan and Sudan, during which it engaged with the leadership of both countries on ways in which to address the current impasse, and calls upon the Parties, in this regard, urgently to activate all of the bodies and processes stipulated in the Cooperation Agreement and its Implementation Matrix; 8. Further welcomes the proposals made by the Chair of the AUHIP, in his letter to the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan dated 9 June 2013, to address the current stalemate in the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement, namely the establishment by the Chair of the Commission and the Chair of IGAD of an Ad Hoc Investigative Mechanism (AIM) into allegations of harboring and support to armed rebel groups acting against the other State, as well as the establishment by the Commission of an AU Border Programme Technical Team (AUBP TT) to determine conclusively the SDBZ centerline on the ground. Council welcomes the acceptance by both countries of these mechanisms, including their commitment to accept their findings, and commends the Chairperson of the Commission and the Chair of IGAD for the speedy action they have taken in this regard; 9. Strongly endorses the establishment of the AIM, and welcomes its recent visit to Sudan and South Sudan, from 24 to 27 July 2013, in commencement of its investigation. Council further strongly endorses the establishment of the AUBP TT, and welcomes the commencement of its work. Council reiterates its position that the determination of the centerline of the SDBZ has no bearing whatsoever on the demarcation of the border between Sudan and South Sudan, which is the subject of other processes; 10. Urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to extend all necessary support to enable these mechanisms to fulfill their functions. In particular, Council urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to respect all aspects of the Implementation Matrix, notably as they relate to the redeployment of forces out of the SDBZ, as well as the principles contained in the Memorandum of Understanding on Non-Aggression and Cooperation. Council also urges the Government of Sudan to suspend any actions to halt the transportation of oil from South Sudan until such time as these mechanisms have completed their work; 11. Welcomes, in relation to the disputed border areas between Sudan and South Sudan, the agreement by the Parties on the rules of procedure for the work of the AU Team of Experts (AUTE). Council urges the Parties to exchange their written submissions as soon as possible, leaving the AUTE to determine, by reference to the historical documents, the definition of the geographical territory with respect to Kaka. Council reaffirms its commitment to help ensure that the processes for settling the status of the disputed and claimed border areas are accorded the necessary priority; 12. Reiterates its firm conviction that there can be no military solution to the conflict in the Two Areas in Sudan, and that there is no alternative to the Parties, namely the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement/Army-North (SPLM/A-N), engaging in direct negotiations toward a political settlement. Council recalls the Framework Agreement of 28 June 2011, as well as the proposed agreement submitted by the AUHIP to the Parties on 17 September 2012, and requests the AUHIP to continue to avail itself to facilitate the urgently needed political negotiations;