PSC/MIN/COMM.1(CCCLXXXVII) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 387th meeting held at ministerial level on 29 July 2013, adopted the following communiqué on the situation between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan: Council, 1. Takes note of the Report of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan (AUHIP) on the situation between Sudan and South Sudan [PSC/MIN/2. (CCCLXXXVII)], as well as of the introductory remarks of the Commissioner for Peace and Security and the briefing given by the Chairperson of the AUHIP. Council also takes note of the statements made by the representatives of the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan, as well as those made by Ethiopia in its capacity of Chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations (UN) Secretariat, Rwanda and Togo, as AU Member States in the UN Security Council, and by the following partners: China, United Kingdom and United States of America, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, Norway and the European Union; 2. Recalls all its earlier communiqués on the situation between Sudan and South Sudan; 3. Commends the AUHIP and its members, namely former Presidents Thabo Mbeki, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, for their continued efforts to assist the Parties to establish cooperative relations toward the goal of establishing two viable States. Council also expresses its appreciation to the Chair of IGAD for his continued support to the efforts of the AUHIP and the Parties; 4. Further commends the UN, in particular its Special Envoy, Haile Menkerios, and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), as well as other bilateral and multilateral partners, for their continued support to the AU-led efforts; 5. Welcomes, once again, the signing, on 10 March 2013, of the Implementation Matrix, which marked the start of the implementation of all aspects of the Cooperation Agreement of 27 September 2012, including the redeployment of forces out of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) and the resumption of oil production in South Sudan and its export through the Sudan oil pipeline to Port Sudan; 6. Expresses grave concern that the smooth implementation of the Cooperation Agreement is threatened by continuing disagreements between the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan over the implementation of the Security Agreement, in particular as it applies to the redeployment of their armed forces out of the SDBZ, and the allegations of continued support to rebel groups opposed to the other State. Council recalls that such support would be in clear violation of the Memorandum of Understanding on Non-Aggression and Cooperation, signed by the two countries on 10 February 2012. Council stresses the urgent necessity for the two countries to summon the necessary political will to overcome the current difficulties and establish two viable States, at peace with one another and cooperating together on issues of common interest;