PSC/PR/COMM.(CDLXV) Page 2 an AU/ECOWAS/United Nations Joint Mission to interact with the Burkinabe stakeholders and facilitate a consensual way out of the crisis; 8. Welcomes the statements made by the current Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, on the situation in Burkina Faso, on 30 October and 2 November 2014; 9. Underlines the need and the urgency for a rapid solution to the current crisis based on the respect of the Constitution and the aspiration of the people of Burkina Faso to the deepening of democracy in their country, as well as on consensus among all concerned Burkinabe stakeholders, within the framework of the relevant AU instruments. In this regard, Council: (i) underlines the continued validity of the Constitution of Burkina Faso; (ii) reaffirms the imperative of a civilian-led and consensual transition in Burkina Faso, it being understood that a military-led transition would be completely contrary to the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso, as well as to the relevant AU instruments; (iii) demands that the Burkinabe military steps aside and hands over power to a civilian authority, in accordance with the Constitution, within a maximum period of two weeks from the date of the adoption of the present communiqué, failure of which, measures including those indicated in paragraph 14 below shall be instituted. Council underlines that there shall be no exception to this decision; (iv) underlines that the civilian authority who will take over the interim leadership of the country will enhance a consultative process involving all Burkinabe political actors and other stakeholders to agree on the modalities, duration, leadership and content of a civilian-led and consensual transition which will lead to the holding, as quickly as possible, of free, fair and transparent elections; and (v) reaffirms the duty and the obligation of the defense and security forces to place themselves at the disposal of the civilian authorities, who should conduct the transition, and to act in a republican spirit, and urges them to refrain from any act or statement that would further complicate the situation in Burkina Faso and negatively affect regional security and stability; 10. Emphasizes, once again, the AU’s conviction that only a civilian-led and consensual transition would meet the legitimate aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso to uphold the Constitution and deepen democracy, and would allow the mobilization of the international support necessary for a successful end to the crisis. In this context, Council reiterates the AU’s readiness, working in close collaboration with ECOWAS and the United Nations, to accompany the Burkinabe people, as well as the political and social stakeholders, and to help mobilize all the international support they need;