PSC/AHG/COMM/1.(CCCXCVII) Page 5 ii. a pledge by all AU member states elected to the Security Council to defend and promote AU decisions in the Security Council; iii. the convening of regular meetings, in New York and in Addis Ababa, between members of the Peace and Security Council and AU members on the Security Council, to exchange views and discuss strategy; iv. the effective implementation of the relevant provisions of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and the Memorandum of Understanding between the AU and its Regional Mechanisms in the area of peace and security, bearing in mind the primary responsibility of the AU in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa; v. the adoption of the immediate steps to strengthen the AU Permanent Mission to the United Nations, including through the establishment of a dedicated standby team to support African members on the Security Council, pending the submission by the Commission of concrete proposals on further steps in this regard to the next Assembly of the Union, in January 2014; and vi. the mobilization of greater financial support by African member states to African peace efforts, including through specific voluntary contributions to the AU Peace Fund, as called for by the Declaration on the Report of the Peace and Security Council on its Activities and the State of Peace and Security in Africa, adopted by the 21st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held on 26 and 27 May 2013 [Assembly/AU/Dec.474-489(XXI)], and other contributions as may be required; 10. Stresses the need for continued efforts to enhance the accountability, transparency and effectiveness of the UN Security Council, building on the efforts made by some members of the United Nations. In this respect, Council requests the Commission to submit a comprehensive report on specific practical ways in which the AU, working in partnership with other interested states and organizations, can make concrete proposals and mobilize the necessary support to take these efforts forward; 11. Recognizes that efforts to enhance the AU-UN partnership on matters relating to peace and security and ensure that African positions and interests are duly taken into account cannot be separated from the overall and much-needed reform of the UN Security Council, in order to bring to an end the historical prejudice against Africa with regard to the membership and composition of this organ, and calls for renewed efforts by the AU in this respect; 12. Stresses the need for continued and enhanced efforts by the AU and the UN, including its Regional Mechanisms, and the UN, more effectively to support ongoing processes: i. in Guinea Bissau, to consolidate the significant progress made to date and, facilitate the mobilization of adequate resources for the holding, as