PSC/AHG/COMM/1.(CCCXCVII) Page 2 iii. the enhancement of the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU), with the appointment of a new Special Representative and the elevation of that position to the rank of an Under-Secretary General; iv. the continued efforts to devise innovative approaches to address complex challenges to peace and security on the African continent, as demonstrated by the joint renewal, by Council, on 19 July 2013 [(PSC/COMM.1/CCCLXXXV)], and by the Security Council, on 30 July 2013 [resolution 2113(2013)], of the mandate of the African Union United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the extension, by the Security Council, on 6 March 2013, of the UN support package to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), using UN assessed contributions [resolution 2093(2013)] , and the collaboration between the AU High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan and South Sudan (AUHIP) and various UN missions; v. the collaborative efforts in other conflict and crisis situations, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region, in Mali, in Guinea-Bissau, and in the Central African Republic (CAR); and vi. the cooperation in a number of other cross-cutting issues, ranging from mine action, to Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR), Security Sector Reform (SSR), post-conflict reconstruction and development, counter-terrorism, and non-proliferation; 5. Expresses concern, nonetheless, that these innovative approaches are not underpinned by a shared strategic vision and remain ad hoc, with the result that gains in one area are not extended to other aspects of the AU-UN partnership. Council notes that this situation has resulted in inadequate consultations on critical conflict and crisis situations and inconsistent and unpredictable support to AU-led efforts; 6. Reiterates its conviction that the challenging and increasingly complex situations on the ground highlight the need for greater collaboration between the AU and the UN on the basis of clearly articulated principles, namely African ownership and priority-setting, flexible and innovative application of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, respect for the principle of subsidiarity, including consultations prior to decision-making, division of labour and sharing of responsibilities, and effective use of the comparative advantage of the AU and its Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution in addressing peace and security challenges in the continent; 7. Notes, in this regard, that the UN Security Council, in presidential statement PRST/2013/12, having recalled that cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security is an integral part of collective security and can improve the latter, expressed its intention to consider further steps to promote closer and more operational cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations in the fields of conflict early warning and prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peace building, and to ensure the coherence, synergy and collective effectiveness of their efforts. Council