Aleksanyan, A. A. The role of the United Nations in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict

Abstract: The article discusses issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict – one of the most protracted conflicts in the former Soviet Union. To date, the efforts of the parties to the conflict to resolve it have clearly been insufficient. The main instrument for the resolution of this dispute is the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In this regard, the role of such all-inclusive organizations such as the United Nations has been significantly reduced. The author analyzes the decisions of the Security Council on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the non-binding resolutions of the UN General Assembly. The author determines that the UN should make a greater effort towards a peaceful settlement of the dispute and focus on the actions of the parties to the conflict outside the parameters of the OSCE Minsk Group. The article highlights the immense role of the UN in implementing the right of peoples to self-determination so as to safeguard their rights and freedoms. However, it is worth noting that if there is a new outbreak of violence, a resumption of hostilities and a definitive collapse of the peace talks, the UN, by way of the Security Council, will once again play a major role.

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