PSC/PR/Comm(LX) Page 1 COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE 60TH PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 60th meeting held on 18 August 2006, adopted the following decision on the situation and the post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Liberia: Council, 1. Takes note of the Information Note presented by the Commission on the situation and the post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Liberia [PSC/PR/2(L)]; 2. Commends President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her Government for the steps taken towards peace building and post-conflict reconstruction in Liberia, since their inauguration last January. Council, in particular, welcomes the initiatives taken to improve governance and combat corruption, including the transparent management of the country’s resources, the revision of the mandate of the Governance Reform Commission so as to include in its tasks the preparation of an anti-corruption strategy and a code of conduct for civil servants, the progress made in the implementation of the Governance and Economic Management and Assistance Programme (GEMAP), and the continued cooperation with the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme; 3. Further commends the Government of Liberia for the efforts deployed to promote national reconciliation and human rights, through the launching and operationalization of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the re-establishment of the Independent Human Rights Commission; 4. Encourages the Government to vigorously pursue its efforts, building on the gains already achieved and the overall thrust of its policy as articulated by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf when she was sworn into office. Council further encourages the different Liberian institutions and stakeholders to work closely together to facilitate the post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts in Liberia; 5. Notes with satisfaction the tremendous contribution made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the regional leaders, other AU Member States, the Commission, including through the Special Envoy of the Chairperson, Ramtane Lamamra, and the AU Liaison Office in Monrovia, as well as the wider international community, in particular the United Nations, the European Union and the United States of America, towards the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia; 6. Urges the international partners to pursue their efforts and provide continued and increased assistance to facilitate the peace building and post-conflict reconstruction efforts in Liberia. In this respect, Council welcomes the recommendations made by the United Nations Secretary-General in his tenth progress report on the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), dated 14 March 2006, including the need for a consolidation phase of up to two years to safeguard and amplify the gains made so far;