Assembly/AU/Dec.472(XX) Page 4 16. STRESSES the need to intensify efforts for reconstruction and post-conflict development to consolidate peace where it has not been done. In that regard, the Assembly REQUESTS the Commission to fully operationalize the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI); 17. REITERATES ITS SERIOUS CONCERN over the routine use of armed rebellion to assert political claims, STRESSES the threat which this trend poses to the viability of democratic processes on the continent, as well as to peace, security and stability in Africa and STRONGLY CONDEMNS this practice as well as any support given to armed rebellions. The Assembly REITERATES ITS REQUEST to the Commission to submit concrete recommendations on ways and means to deal with the scourge of armed rebellion and that of secession claims; 18. WELCOMES the convening in Pretoria, from 21 to 22 November 2012, of a workshop on the implementation of resolution 1540 in Africa, on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors, STRESSES in this respect the relevance of AU non-proliferation and counter-terrorism instruments, and REQUESTS the Commission to take the necessary steps, in collaboration with the 1540 Committee and all other stakeholders, to further promote and enhance the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004) in Africa; 19. NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the convening of the 2nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), as well as of the 2 nd Conference of States Parties to the Treaty, in Addis Ababa, on 26 July 2012 and from 12 to 13 November 2012, respectively. The Assembly ENCOURAGES the Commission and the Republic of South Africa to finalize, as soon as possible, their consultations on the establishment of the AFCONE headquarters in Pretoria, and other related aspects; 20. NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the finalization by the Commission the “African Union Strategy on the Control of Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons”, in the context of decision Assembly/AU/Dec.369(XVII) of July 2011, and ENCOURAGES Member States to make use of the Strategy and its Action Plan. The Assembly ALSO NOTES WITH SATISFACTION the elaboration of an Africa Common Position on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), as requested by Assembly decision Assembly/AU/Dec.369(XVII), and ENCOURAGES Member States to make use of the Common Position to further Africa‟s concerns and interests during the Final UN Conference on the ATT will be held in New York in March 2013; 21. COMMENDS the Commission for having completed the development of the draft AU Policy Framework on Security Sector Reform (SSR), in fulfilment of Assembly Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.177(X) of January 2008, URGES Member States to take advantage of the Policy, and ENCOURAGES the Commission to avail the required assistance to Member States in this respect.

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