PSC/AHG/BR/1(CCCXCVII) Page 1 PRESS STATEMENT The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 397th meeting held on 23 September 2013, adopted the following press statement on the situation in GuineaBissau. Council welcomed the significant progress made in the transition process in Guinea Bissau, and commended the Bissau-Guinean actors for the progress made. Council encouraged them to persevere in their efforts to create the conditions conducive to the successful holding, on 24 November 2013, of the presidential and legislative elections that would mark the end of the transition. Council urged all AU Member States to actively contribute to the mobilization of the resources necessary for the holding of credible and transparent elections. Council also called on international partners to provide full support to this process. In particular, Council requested the United Nations to take a more active role in support of GuineaBissau following the presidential statement on the matter adopted by the UN Security Council on 11 September 2013. Council requested the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council and the Chairperson of the Commission to engage with the UN Secretary General to this end. Council stressed the need for all partners to support the efforts of the Bissau Guinean actors to meet the socio-economic and other challenges facing Guinea-Bissau.