Assembly/AU/Dec.491(XXII) DECISION ON THE REPORT OF THE 7TH ORDINARY MEETING OF THE SPECIALIZED TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE AFRICAN UNION Doc. Assembly/AU/4(XXII) The Assembly, 1. RECALLS its decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.489(XXI)].on the establishment of the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC); 2. WELCOMES the follow-up steps taken by the Commission, notably the establishment of a Panel of Independent experts to assess the Status of the operationalization of the African Standby Force and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC), as well as the development of proposals for the operationalization of ACIRC; 3. ENDORSES the Declaration of the 7th ordinary meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS) of the African Union (AU) held in Addis Ababa on 14 January 2014, and its preparatory meetings of Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Safety and Security, as well as of Experts, from 10 to 11 and on 12 January 2014; 4. REQUESTS the Chairperson of the Commission to submit a comprehensive report on the implementation of this Declaration at the next ordinary session in June 2014.