What is the role of the UN in conflict resolution. New challenges and threats at the beginning of the XXI century. The UN Security Council and its role in the fight against international terrorism

Comparison of the lofty and noble aspirations proclaimed in the UN Charter with those implemented in practice, with real methods and methods of their implementation, as well as the results and consequences of many UN actions, cannot but cause mixed feelings. The generalized indicator of the effectiveness of the UN for 55 years is as follows: at the end of the twentieth century. more than 1.5 billion people lived on less than $1 a day. More than 1 billion adults, mostly women, could not read or write; 830 million people suffered from malnutrition; 750 million people did not have access to adequate housing or health care.

The United Nations has certainly played a prominent role in history and will leave a stronger mark on it than its predecessor, the League of Nations. Figuratively speaking, the UN played the role of a kind of international constitutional assembly to coordinate the rules of law, which have become common not only for individuals, but also for entire states. And in this capacity, a lot has been done.

The undoubted achievement is the very unification of all peoples and states of the planet under the common banner of ensuring international peace and security. An unconditional achievement is also the recognition of the principle of the sovereign equality of all states and the universal obligation not to interfere in each other's internal affairs. Thanks to the world organization, the share and role of secret diplomacy have significantly decreased, the world has become more open, and humanity has become more informed about what is happening in it. The annual sessions of the General Assembly, which bring together the leading figures of almost all states of the world, give each state the opportunity to address the international community with its problems and concerns, and the inhabitants of the planet to find out in a timely manner what worries humanity as a whole in the first place.

With the active participation of the UN, important international legal acts were developed and adopted, which, in a certain sense, determined the course of world politics in the second half of the 20th century. Suffice it to say that already the first resolution, adopted by the General Assembly on January 24, 1946, dealt with the problems of the peaceful use of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other types of weapons of mass destruction.

Continuing the traditions of the League of Nations, the UN organized the work of its permanent body - the international Conferences on Disarmament in Geneva. It discussed the main ideas of the treaties on the prohibition of nuclear weapons tests: first in the atmosphere, underground and under water (signed in 1963), and then over the seas and oceans (1971). It also discussed the main ideas of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, according to which the nuclear powers pledged not to provide nuclear weapons to other countries, and states that did not yet possess such weapons - not to develop or produce them. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 10 and has been open for signature since September 24, 1996, that is, more than half a century after the adoption of the first UN General Assembly resolution on the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction. In 1972, an agreement was signed on a ban on the development, production and storage of bacteriological weapons, and 20 years later (in 1992) a similar document was signed with regard to chemical weapons. In 1990, it was possible to achieve the conclusion of an agreement on the reduction of conventional armed forces in Europe.

Mankind has long enjoyed the riches of the seas and oceans, but so far only a small fraction of what they can give people. Land, rivers and lakes have already been divided among peoples and states, belonging to those who live in the respective territories. Huge wealth is at the bottom of the seas and oceans, which are international. How to use them and on the basis of what right?

In 1958, the UN member states signed the Convention on the Continental Shelf, according to which the shelf of internationally agreed width is divided among all coastal states. In 1982, an international convention on the law of the sea was concluded. In connection with the beginning of space exploration, the question arose about the ownership of space objects and their natural resources. After lengthy discussions, in 1979 an agreement was signed on the activities of states on the Moon and other celestial bodies. These agreements and the Convention on the Continental Shelf proclaimed space, the deep seabed and its mineral resources common heritage of mankind.

According to these international agreements, it was established that:

1) the sphere of the common heritage of mankind is not subject to any appropriation by states, individuals and legal entities;

2) when using the resources of the common heritage of mankind, the interests of the entire international community should be taken into account;

3) states are obliged to ensure that the activities of their organizations and individuals in areas of the common heritage of mankind are carried out in strict accordance with international rules;

4) when developing resources in these areas, the necessary measures to protect the environment should be taken.

Another important field of activity of the UN is its assistance to the process of eliminating colonial dependence and gaining state independence by the peoples of Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Atlantic basins. An exceptionally important role in this process was played by the UN General Assembly in 1960. Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples". In accordance with it, more than 60 former colonies received state independence and became members of the UN. By the day of the 50th anniversary of the UN (in 1995), there were still 17 self-governing territories in the world. The jubilee session of the General Assembly declared the year 2000 the year of the end of colonialism. The UN also made a certain positive contribution to the process of settling political and ethnic conflicts in individual countries.

The role of the UN in the development of an international code of human rights is especially significant. The inalienability and inalienability of human rights is already mentioned in the UN Charter itself. It also says about the mission of the UN, which consists in the need "... to carry out international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature and in promoting and developing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion”. Of lasting importance are Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 and entered into force in 1976. Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” and " Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". The states that signed them pledged to create all the necessary conditions for the realization of the human rights and freedoms proclaimed here. Many dozens of declarations and conventions on the rights and freedoms of various strata and groups of the population have been adopted in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international covenants on human rights. The achievements of the UN include the above-mentioned activities of the UN specialized agencies (UNESCO, WHO, ILO, etc.)

The UN achieved the greatest success in those areas of activity where the rivalry of the leading powers of the world was weaker. Although it cannot be denied that it was the leading powers of the world that made the most significant contribution to this success. Oddly enough, it was the rivalry between the USA and the USSR and the systems of social relations personified by them that played a good service to mankind, and significantly advanced it along the path of progress. Thus, over the 85 years of the 20th century, despite two devastating world wars, the world production of goods and services increased by more than 50 times. 80% of this colossal growth occurred during the period of the most acute confrontation between the two systems - from 1950 to 1985. During this period, the economic growth rate in the world was the highest in the history of mankind - about 5% annually. Of course, such development became possible due to many factors, including the scientific and technological revolution. In conditions of intense rivalry among themselves, the states sought to use them to the maximum advantage for themselves. All this taken together made it possible to achieve the highest rates of economic growth and the longest cycle of crisis-free development in the world. The merits of the UN and its specialized agencies in these successes are significant. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, "the ideological conflicts and divisions of the bipolar world have been replaced by ethnic and religious intolerance, political ambitions and greed, and are often exacerbated by the illegal trade in weapons, jewelry and drugs." The rate of economic growth also dropped significantly.

480 rub. | 150 UAH | $7.5 ", MOUSEOFF, FGCOLOR, "#FFFFCC",BGCOLOR, "#393939");" onMouseOut="return nd();"> Thesis - 480 rubles, shipping 10 minutes 24 hours a day, seven days a week and holidays

Gegraeva Leyla Khamzatovna. The role of the UN in the settlement of international conflicts: 23.00.04 Gegraeva, Leyla Khamzatovna The role of the UN in the settlement of international conflicts (On the example of the Arab-Israeli, Rwandan and Iraqi conflicts): Dis. ... cand. polit. Sciences: 23.00.04 Moscow, 2005 166 p. RSL OD, 61:05-23/220

Introduction

Chapter 1. Participation of the UN in the development of the world political process 13

1. The role of the UN in ensuring the system of collective security 13

2. Modern conflicts and ways to resolve them in accordance with UN methods 28

Chapter 2 The UN and the settlement of international crises and conflicts in the modern world 44

1. Arab-Israeli conflict 44

2. Humanitarian tragedy in Rwanda 57

3. Iraq Crisis 69

Chapter 3 Problems and ways of reforming the structure of the UN in the face of growing threats of international terrorism 78

1. New challenges and threats at the beginning of the XXI century. The UN Security Council and its role in the fight against international terrorism 78

2. Reforming the Security Council in accordance with new challenges and threats 95

3. The main factors of inefficiency of the UN mechanism in the settlement of international crises and prospects for the development of the UN 108

Conclusion 118

List of sources and literature 127

Documentary applications 141

Introduction to work

The object of the dissertation research is the place and role of the United Nations in the system of modern international political institutions and in the global political process.

The subject of the dissertation research is the activities of the UN as a guarantor of international peace and security, as well as the system of interaction between states as subjects of international law, cooperating within the framework of the UN. The author also examines the mechanisms of the UN used to resolve conflict situations and the totality of factors affecting the effectiveness of the UN.

Relevance of the topic. In the 20th century, more people died in armed conflicts than in the entire previous history of mankind. It became the most destructive and bloody. Conflicts have become one of the leading factors of instability on earth. Modern conflicts pose a threat not only to the participants in the conflict, but to the entire world community. And despite the end of the Cold War, the world still faces the threat of nuclear war from major nuclear powers. At the same time, in today's dynamic, rapidly developing world, interstate conflicts have been replaced by civil wars. The collapse of the bipolar world led to the creation of new states, new types of threats to international peace and security emerged, which predetermined the need to intensify the activities of the universal international organization - the UN. The political processes taking place at this stage of the development of society reveal the need to study conflicts, analyze their causes and consequences.

The choice of the topic of the dissertation to analyze the role of the UN in resolving international crises and conflicts at the present stage is due to the fact that it is the UN that has the main responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It is also important to analyze the activities of the UN in settling international conflicts and to identify the factors that have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the UN's actions. It should be noted that the UN was created to unite all states in order to counter threats to international peace and stability. Consequently, international peace and security largely depend on the results of the activities of the UN, or, in other words, on the consolidation of the efforts of the world community in the fight against new threats to international peace and stability.

Goals and objectives. The purpose of the study is to analyze the multidimensional role of the UN in resolving international conflicts at the present stage, as well as to determine its contribution to the process of resolving international crises and conflicts. In accordance with this goal, the following tasks were set in the study:

1. To trace the process of the emergence of the need for a universal organization, which is the guarantor of international peace and stability, to analyze the evolution of its formation.

2. To study and summarize the positions of domestic and foreign scientists on the problem under consideration.

3. Explore the methods and tools used by the UN to resolve conflict situations.

4. Analyze the activities of the UN in the settlement of international conflicts on the example of the Arab-Israeli, Rwandan, Iraqi conflicts.

5. On the basis of the conflict situations considered in the Security Council, assess the activities of the UN Security Council and the relationship between the permanent members of this Council.

6. Determine the role of the UN in maintaining the balance of power in the international political arena.

7. Justify the need to reform the UN, and in particular the UN Security Council, in accordance with the changing international situation.

8. Analyze the main factors that reduce the effectiveness of the UN.

Methodological basis. The dissertation is devoted to the role of the UN in the settlement of international conflicts at the present stage. The subject of the dissertation research involves the use of certain scientific methods that allow for an objective and comprehensive analysis. To achieve these goals and solve the tasks set, the following methods were used:

1. The method of political analysis - when tracing the process of formation, formation and development of the UN as a guarantor of international peace and security.

2. System analysis - in determining the role of the UN in the system of international relations, during which the subject of research is considered as a complex process.

3. Normative method - analysis of the provisions of international legal and regulatory documents, as well as UN Security Council resolutions, documents and recommendations of the UN General Assembly.

In the dissertation, the author, in addition to applying the above methods of analysis, also used the method of event analysis (invent analysis). Taken together, this makes it possible to assess ongoing international conflicts by analyzing the dynamics, identify general trends in their development and determine the role of the UN in their settlement.

The degree of development of the topic. In the process of working on the dissertation, numerous works of Russian and foreign political scientists and historians were used. It should be noted the almost complete absence of comprehensive studies on this topic in Western and Russian science. Partially, this topic is touched upon in the works of Russian and foreign scientists: N.V. Aleksandrov "Ways and methods of resolving ethno-political conflicts in the modern world", M.V. Andreeva "Modern international legal aspects of reforming the UN Security Council", SV. Shatunovsky-Byurno "Improving the effectiveness of the UN, international legal aspects", D.V. Polikanova "Conflicts in Africa and the activities of international organizations to resolve them", Getacheu Jigi Delixsa "Ethno-political conflicts in Africa", Khairy Naji Abdel Fatah Al - Oridi " The Middle East Peace Process: The Palestinian Track.

It should be noted that the majority of foreign and Russian scientists believe that the UN should play the leading role in preventing and resolving conflicts. An attempt to circumvent or formally "cover" the UN not only does not contribute to the process of conflict management, but also leads to its further escalation. The political processes taking place in the modern world have set the task for scientists to find the causes of the ongoing changes, identify common trends, and determine the significance of the UN in maintaining the balance of power in the political arena.

Sources and literature. In the study, the author relied on documentary sources, Russian and foreign works and publications.

The main sources were UN documents, and one of the main ones is the UN Charter, which contains the principles of international relations, namely: national self-determination, the sovereign equality of states, the prohibition on the use of force in international relations, the assertion of fundamental human rights, etc. The resolutions of the UN Security Council and the official reports of the Secretary General on their implementation, documents of the General Assembly, statements by the Chairman of the UN Security Council, as well as agreements between various parties on a ceasefire, on cooperation, etc. were also studied and analyzed.

Another important source was the materials of the relevant Internet sites: www.un.org, www.un.org/russian , www.un.org/russian/document/centre .

During the work, the dissertation relied on the works of Russian scientists, among which it is necessary to highlight the following authors: L.N. Abaev, E.P. Bazhanov, E.G. Baranovsky, A.V. Bursov, S. Gorov, L.E. Grishaeva , K.M. Dolgov, V.E. Dontsov, S.A. Egorov, A.G. Zadokhin, T.A. Zakaurtseva, G.G. .Kulmatov, M.M.Lebedeva, V.F.Li, A.V.Mitrofanova, G.S.Nikitina, E.M.Primakov, G.A.Rudov, S.V.Tyushkevich, E.V.Frolova , O.O.Khokhlysheva, P.A.Tsygankov, S.A.Shlyakov, etc.

Among the works devoted to the problem of the Middle East settlement, one should note the book by E.M. Primakov "The World after September 11", where the author considers possible approaches to resolving international conflicts, in particular the Middle East, which creates fertile ground for international terrorism, substantiates the importance of strengthening the role of the UN in connection with the events of September 11, 2001, which changed public opinion on the problems of international security and stability.

MM. Lebedeva in the monograph "Political Settlement of Conflicts" calls modern conflicts one of the leading factors of instability on the globe. Being difficult to resolve, they tend to grow and involve an increasing number of participants, which poses a serious threat not only to the participants, but to the entire world community. This threat increases significantly if we take into account that the largest environmental disasters are possible even in the event of small local conflicts. The 1991 Persian Gulf War clearly demonstrated the danger to the planet's ecology that arson of oil wells could pose. It took the efforts of many countries to extinguish fires at wells, as well as to clean the surface of the earth from oil pollution.

S.A. Tyushkevich in his book "A New Redistribution of the World" analyzes the problems of strategic and military security in the context of the process of globalization at the beginning of the 21st century, referring to aggressive wars in Yugoslavia and Iraq and the behavior of the United States. He believes that military force as an instrument of politics retains its importance, and the world continues to live according to the laws, when the preferential right to influence the state of international relations is assigned to those who have greater military power. This was confirmed by the US aggression against Iraq in March-April 2003.

Among the works devoted to the classification of conflicts and methods of their settlement, one should single out the work of E.G. Baranovsky “Peace Insurance”, where the author assesses the role of the UN. E.G. Baranovsky evaluates the role of this international organization in the creation and improvement of mechanisms for the protection of international peace and collective security, analyzes the concept of peacekeeping and the features of PKO (peacekeeping operations) of the first, second and third generation, as well as problems associated with the implementation of PKO in practice and ways their decisions.

O.O. Khokhlysheva in the book "International Legal Problems of Forced UN Peacekeeping and Possible Solutions", examines the international legal problems of forceful UN peacekeeping and the mechanism of international legal regulation of peacekeeping operations. According to the author, legal regulation is the most priority way of influencing international relations. At the same time, the main condition for ensuring the international legal order is the need to comply with international legal norms in accordance with national legislation and international norms.

In the monograph by V.N. Fedorov "The UN - an instrument for maintaining international peace and security" provides a detailed analysis of the conceptual and practical aspects of the UN activities, describes specific historical precedents in its activities, and suggests possible options for improving peacekeeping instruments.

Deep analysis is inherent in the works of AI Nikitin, which deal in detail with the distribution of powers in the field of peacekeeping between the UN Security Council, the General Assembly and the UN Secretariat. In his book “Peacekeeping Operations: Concepts and Practice”, the author pays special attention to issues related to the use of armed forces against states that threaten international peace and security, the practical activities of the UN to intervene in conflicts, and the legal justification for peacekeeping operations using armed forces.

The dissertator also referred to the works of such foreign authors as E.J. Carvalho, B. Fassbinder, P. Calvocoressi, R. Dahrendorf, L. Koser, M. Amstutz, B. Butros-Ghali, Khairy Naji Fatah al-Oridi, G .Kissinger, S.Huntington, Nazim Mejid ad-Deirawi, etc.

Of particular interest is the book by Abulmagda A.K., Arispe L., Ashrawi H. et al. “Overcoming Barriers”, which characterizes the last decade of the 20th century, marked by the disasters of people affected by conflicts, and their participants justified their actions, referring to ethnic, religious, tribal, cultural, gender or other differences. But, according to the authors, the main cause of ongoing conflicts is a person, whether it be a leader or a member of a group. The dialogue among civilizations is an attempt to find a new opportunity to look at other peoples, their cultures and civilizations from a global, local and even individual point of view, as well as to understand the role and significance of the UN in this dialogue.

It should also be noted the book by B. Boutros - Ghali "An Agenda for Peace", where the author tried to determine the most effective measures in relation to the process of maintaining peace on the planet. As the main peacekeeping tools he proposed: preventive diplomacy, peacekeeping, peacekeeping, disarmament, post-conflict world order. At the same time, special attention is paid to preventive diplomacy, which is defined by the author as the most effective tool, representing actions aimed at preventing the emergence of a dispute between the conflicting parties, preventing the escalation of existing disputes into conflicts and limiting the spread of the latter, if they have already occurred.

To understand the general context of international relations that determined the tasks of the UN, the books of American scientists Z. Brzezinski and S. Huntington were useful.

Book 3. Brzezinski's "Grand Chessboard", dedicated to US strategy, goals and objectives of American policy, highlights as the ultimate goal the creation of a truly cooperative world community in accordance with long-term trends and the fundamental interests of mankind. At the same time, it is emphasized that it is important that there is no rival in the political arena that is capable of dominating Eurasia and, therefore, challenging America.

S. Huntington in his book "The Clash of Civilizations" singles out the conflict between groups of different civilizations as the central and most dangerous aspect of the emerging global politics. Defining Western civilization as a civilization that has a rather strong influence on global development, he does not exclude the viability of other civilizations at the same time. In the modern era, he sees in the clashes of civilizations the greatest threat to world peace, and only an international order based on their coexistence is the most reliable measure to prevent a new world war.

Of great interest is also the book of I. G. Martins “A look at the modern world”. The author holds the view that it was in its main role - the role of the guardian of peace - that the UN suffered a complete failure, and the original idea of ​​unanimity of the 5 great powers, based on the use of the right of veto, turned into an instrument for international blackmail and for limiting the role of the UN.

Among the works of foreign and Russian works of scientists studied by the author of the dissertation, devoted to the Arab-Israeli conflict, it is impossible not to single out the dissertation work of Khairy Naji Abdel Fattah al-Oridi "The Middle East Peace Process: The Palestinian Direction", in which the author tried to find the real cause of this conflict and propose possible ways to resolve it.

The scientific novelty of the dissertation lies in the fact that it comprehensively explores the role of the UN in the settlement of international conflicts. Taking into account the new political trends that have emerged both in global development and in peacekeeping, the activities of the UN in this direction are characterized, and the main factors of the inefficiency of the UN mechanism in resolving international crises and conflicts are identified. Possible directions for reforming the UN Security Council are considered.

Practical significance. The results of the dissertation can be used in various departments of the Russian Foreign Ministry, in teaching activities, in the preparation and reading of training courses on the role of the UN in the development of international relations and the formation of a collective security system. The work may be useful for researchers, teachers and students, political scientists and specialists in international relations. The results of the study can be used in the further development of the UN peacekeeping strategy.

Dissertation structure. The work consists of an introduction, three chapters, a conclusion, a list of sources and references, applications.

Modern conflicts and ways to resolve them in accordance with the methods of the UN

The 20th century turned out to be the most destructive and bloody. About 140-150 million people died in wars and armed conflicts over the course of a century. Some researchers are of the opinion that on the threshold of the 21st century and the third millennium, two trends have clearly emerged in matters of war and peace, expressing both optimism and anxiety. On the one hand, the positive shifts of the 1990s in relations between states give rise to the expectation of a "peaceful era" and expand the opportunity to overcome such evil as war. On the other hand, the great powers, instead of seizing the opportunity and moving towards drastic demilitarization, are maintaining the traditional approaches to military construction characteristic of the Cold War.10

According to some political scientists, modern conflicts have become one of the leading factors of instability on the globe. Being poorly managed, they tend to involve an increasing number of participants, which creates a serious threat not only to their participants, but to everyone living on earth. This threat increases significantly if we take into account that the largest environmental disasters are possible even in the event of small local conflicts. The war in the Persian Gulf in 1991, in connection with the occupation of Kuwait by Iraq, clearly demonstrated the danger to the ecology of the planet that the burning of oil wells could pose.

It took the efforts of many countries to extinguish fires at wells, as well as to clean the surface of the earth from oil pollution.

On the other hand, aggressiveness on the part of the United States and other Western countries has increased. The wars that were unleashed by the aggressors led to the death of many thousands of soldiers and civilians and damaged the economy of a number of countries, such as the war in Yugoslavia. According to Yugoslav sources, the damage from the fighting is 130 billion. dollars. For military needs, according to estimates of authoritative Western financial and political institutions, NATO has spent 8-10 billion. dollars, of which 75% were allocated by the United States.

But neither America nor other countries have realized that, in the end, there are no winners in these wars and conflicts, only losers. The trend of world political processes in the modern world testifies to the aggravation of ethnic conflicts. Wars, armed conflicts lead to the disintegration of states, to the formation of new ones, to the change of political regimes. Processes of change are natural if they are carried out in a civilized way, but changes that occur as a result of death and destruction, bloody wars and acts of violence cannot be called civilized. One of the most striking examples of this kind, characterizing the uncivilized ways of fighting for political power, is, of course, the Rwandan conflict, in which the number of victims reached 1 million people, more than 2 million people became refugees. Thus, the processes taking place in the modern world reflect the need to improve methods for preventing and resolving conflicts, which is associated with identifying their essence, causes, and consequences. An analysis of the nature of conflicts and wars has been undertaken by both thinkers of past centuries and modern scientists.

A. Smith believes that the source of conflict in society is the division of society into classes and rivalry between classes.13

According to Marx, conflict is a temporary state of society, in connection with which it is possible to achieve such a level in the development of society when conflicts disappear.

But there is another, opposite point of view, whose supporters are of the opinion that society cannot exist without conflicts, that conflict is an integral part of being. In accordance with this point of view, conflict is not a pathology, but is a norm of relations between people, a necessary element of social life, giving way to social tension, generating social changes in society. The followers of this theory are G. Simmel, L. Koser, R. Dahrendorf

According to R. Dahrendorf, society is in a state of constant conflict. The level of social tension depends on their desire and ability to change their position in society. Relations of domination and subordination, inequality in the distribution of power are the basis of the conflict.14 And since inequality in the distribution of power cannot be eliminated from the life of society, social society cannot reach a level of development at which conflicts will disappear and cease to be an integral part of being.

G. Simmel is of the opinion that the conflict consists in the emergence of certain disagreements and at the same time is a socializing force that unites the warring parties and contributes to the stabilization of society, despite the fact that it is one of the forms of disagreement.

In accordance with the theory of L. Kozer, conflicts are generated by the very essence of man and society and have a functionally positive impact on the historical process. Thus, he viewed conflict as a process contributing to the reintegration of society in the course of social change.15

But not all researchers of this problem consider conflict as a phenomenon expressed in the existence of social tension in society, the confrontation of different classes, which can lead to violence, or as a struggle for values ​​and claims for a certain status, power, resources, a struggle in which the goal opponents is to neutralize or destroy the opponent.

M. Amstutz sees a positive meaning in most conflicts, as they have a positive impact on human life, since the conflict situation gives society dynamism. He believes that without tensions and disputes, it would be uncreative and unproductive.1 But does the end justify the means? Isn't the price for developing the creative potential of society too high? Given that modern conflicts are armed and violent, and violent conflict resolution is generally the most commonly used method of conflict resolution, all this contributes to the aggravation of chaos and instability and leads to severe economic and political crises.

Humanitarian tragedy in Rwanda

At the beginning of the 1990s, the UN faced a wave of new generation conflicts, intra-state conflicts with ethnic and religious roots. As an example, consider the tragedy in Rwanda, and the actions of the UN in resolving this conflict.

More than 10 years have passed since those tragic events in Rwanda. The civil war in Rwanda can be described as a "war of annihilation" between the ethnic Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority. Speaking of the Rwandan conflict, it should be noted that it took place on ethnic grounds. The two Tutsi tribes and the Hutus occupied different social levels, the Tutsis being higher, and the Hutu had a subordinate position, despite the fact that they represented the ethnic majority. Between these tribes throughout history there were clashes on interethnic grounds. Subsequently, these clashes escalated into a brutal massacre, which took on terrifying proportions. The most severe conflict lasted more than 3 months. During this period, about 1 million people died. Human.

For the first time, an extremist orientation appeared in 1962, when Rwanda gained independence. The first president of Rwanda was G. Kayibanda, from the Hutu tribe. Political power was concentrated in the hands of the president and the Republican Democratic Movement party. It was with the advent of this party that extremism arose in Rwanda, as it promoted the liberation of the Hutu people, through the physical elimination and expulsion of the Tutsis from the country. In response to the ideology of the ruling party with an extremist orientation, the Tutsi people created a military-patriotic movement - the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Subsequently, the detachments of this movement in 1990. entered Rwanda to protect the Tutsi people from Hutu hegemony. The problem was that the defense was carried out using armed struggle. Despite the fact that August 4, 1993. the Arusha Agreement was signed, which provided for the end of the civil war, the situation in the country did not improve. The events that took place on April 6, 1994 led to the escalation of the conflict, namely the fact that, on that day, a plane with President J. Habyarimana was shot down in Kigali. Whether the death of J. Habyarimana was the cause or cause is unknown, but there is no doubt that it was the death of the president that became the impetus that led to the mass extermination of civilians in Rwanda, which lasted 3 months. The events taking place in Rwanda testified to the fact that systematic, widespread and flagrant violations of international law are being committed in Rwanda. What was the main reason for these events? Undoubtedly, the main reason is the ethnic factor, which is the most difficult problem on the African continent. Also, as a factor contributing to armed actions, one can single out the contradictions that arise in the establishment and regulation of relations at various levels of government, since the conflict in Rwanda is expressed in the struggle of various ethnic groups for dominance in the authorities, disposal of the country's resources. Studying the causes of the Rwandan conflict, one should note the socio-economic factor. The socio-economic factor is the low level of economic development of African countries. (At that time, the human development index in 1993 was 0.379. The total GDP of the countries of tropical Africa did not exceed 250 billion dollars in 1993, and its growth amounted to 1.5% in 1980-1993. GNP per capita in 1993 amounted to 555 dollars, and the growth rate of this indicator in the period from 1980-1993 turned out to be negative - 0.6%). 43 The interweaving of the socio-economic factor with the ethnic one creates the basis for a conflict that is difficult to settle and resolve. From the foregoing, we can conclude that with a low level of socio-economic development, access to power is the only way to enrich a certain group and uncontrolled disposal of national wealth. Some Russian political scientists adhere to a similar point of view, believing that the escalation of ordinary inter-ethnic tension into a call for political independence occurs only when political independence becomes economically profitable.44 This happened in Rwanda as well. In 1994, after the victory in the civil war, power passed to the Tutsi tribe. What has changed in this country? The changes affected only the fact that the Tutsis from the persecuted turned into persecutors. It is possible that only when there is a realization that for one tribe there is a threat of complete annihilation (Tutsi), and for another the threat of retribution (Hutu), the hatred and mutual hostility of the two tribes will disappear, and there will be a desire to resolve the conflict peacefully. But this is impossible without strengthening democratic institutions built on the principles of respect for human rights.

New challenges and threats at the beginning of the XXI century. The UN Security Council and its role in the fight against international terrorism

At the beginning of the 21st century, the world community failed to cope with all global challenges: war, terrorism, poverty and the threat to human rights, regional, interethnic conflicts, environmental threats, the threat of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. But, of course, the most acute is terrorism.

The terrorist attacks that have taken place in recent years have shown that international terrorism has acquired a global character and has no geographical boundaries. They are carried out with a large number of victims, "cultivation of suicide bombers", with the processing of new technologies for taking hostages, instilling an atmosphere of fear, disorganization of society. According to V. Putin, the main weapon of terrorists is not bullets, grenades, bombs, but blackmail of the civilian population and the state. The success of a terrorist operation requires careful reconnaissance of the object of attack, surprise, maneuverability of the group and decisiveness of action.62

After the September 11 attacks in New York, the world realized the need to unite in the fight against terrorism. The Security Council has done a great deal of work; an antiterrorist coalition operating under the auspices of the UN has been formed on the basis of resolutions and conventions adopted by the UN Security Council. The antiterrorist activity of the UN is reflected in 12 international conventions and 46 resolutions of the UN Security Council. Resolution 1373 occupies a special place among them.

To build up multilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism, on September 28, 2001, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1373. It was adopted in response to one of the most dangerous challenges of our time. It provides for measures for the comprehensive crossing of the external support of international terrorism. The measures provided for in this resolution are binding on all States. Sanctions are provided for states that do not comply with the requirements of this resolution. Of course, all states must adhere to these requirements, because "the Security Council has qualified acts of international terrorism as a threat to international peace and security." It has an important political significance, as it strengthens the political and legal basis for the formation of a broad international anti-terrorist coalition, designed to resolutely counter this acute global challenge based on the UN Charter and universally recognized norms of international law”63.

In accordance with this resolution, each state is obliged to refrain from organizing, inciting, assisting or participating in terrorist acts in other states. It is very important in the fight against terrorism, as it obliges states to take the following actions: preventing and suppressing the financing of terrorist acts; criminalizing the willful provision or collection of funds, by any means, directly or indirectly, by their citizens or in their territories; in case of identification of persons committing or attempting to commit terrorist acts, to block funds, other financial assets, economic resources; to prohibit its citizens or any persons and organizations in its territory from providing any funds, financial assets or economic resources, directly or indirectly, for use in the interests of persons who commit or attempt to commit acts of terrorism; take the necessary measures to prevent the commission of terrorist acts, by early warning of other states, through the exchange of information; deny safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts; take all measures to ensure that those who finance, plan, assist or commit terrorist acts do not use their territory for these purposes against other states; bring to justice those involved in the financing, planning, preparation or commission of terrorist acts. Qualify acts of terrorism as serious criminal offences; interact with each other in the course of a criminal investigation or prosecution relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts; prevent the movement of terrorists or terrorist groups through effective border controls.64 But it should be noted that for the effective application of all these measures in practice, it is necessary to intensify and accelerate the exchange of operational information, in accordance with international law and domestic legislation; cooperate within the framework of bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and agreements; ensure that perpetrators and organizers of terrorist acts and their accomplices do not abuse refugee status, in accordance with international law, and that references to political motives are not recognized as grounds for rejecting requests for the extradition of suspects.

Thus, Resolution 1373 contributes to the unification of the efforts of all countries in the fight against international terrorism; it covers not only political issues related to this problem, but also financial and legal ones. Creates a legal foundation that countries can rely on to counter this threat. Financing and supporting persons who commit or attempt to commit acts of terrorism are criminalized. The measures envisaged by this resolution are aimed at strengthening the mechanism for monitoring the implementation of this sanctions regime, increasing the level of cooperation in the implementation of the requirements of Security Council resolutions.

Resolution 1373 is based on the articles of the seventh chapter of the UN Charter, and defines terrorism as a threat to global peace and security, but does not give a clear definition of the concept of "terrorist", this allows each state to maneuver and act at its own discretion.

The Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) has been established to monitor the fulfillment by all states of their obligations in anti-terrorist activities. On February 20, 2003, an open meeting of the UN Security Council was held on the problem of combating international terrorism. Those present expressed their opinion on the need for further comprehensive support of the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council, and the main areas of the CTC's activities were identified:

1. establishing cooperation between the Committee and regional structures;

2. providing technical assistance to states in building up anti-terrorist potentials, preventing a possible link between "terrorists and weapons of mass destruction."

The main factors of inefficiency of the UN mechanism in the settlement of international crises and prospects for the development of the UN

Increasingly in recent years, one can hear criticism of the UN about the ineffectiveness of the ongoing operations, the tools and methods used to resolve a particular conflict. But if we objectively consider the current situation, we can note that along with fatal mistakes, there were also successful peacekeeping operations. Miscalculations and mistakes are due to the fact that in today's dynamic, rapidly developing world, it found itself in an unusual situation where interstate conflicts gave way to civil wars, the collapse of the bipolar world led to the creation of new states, and new types of threats to international peace and security emerged. There is a reduction in the role of the UN and the Security Council. Increasingly, there is a violation of the principles of the UN, ignoring the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the application of sanctions against some countries contrary to the decisions of the Council members. But is it possible in this situation to say that the decrease in the role of the UN, the violation of its principles, the use of forceful methods, is due to the inefficiency in the activities of the UN, its inability to timely and adequately respond to the current situation? Of course not. In our opinion, this happens for one reason, which is that the United States, Great Britain and other countries neglect the norms of international law. One of the main arguments for criticism of the activities of the UN is the inability of the UN to quickly respond and make decisions that contribute to the prevention of conflict. In our opinion, this argument is not sufficiently substantiated, since the UN Standby Arrangement System is functioning successfully. The states that have joined this system maintain contingents and equipment in a state of high readiness to provide, if necessary, for peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN, and the intensity of the process of deepening UN cooperation with regional organizations leads to a coalition of states in order to quickly respond to a crisis situation. In our opinion, one of the main factors that reduces the role of the UN in settling international conflicts is that it has failed to remove the presence of WMD and nuclear weapons from the control of sovereign states. After the Cold War, there was hope that the arms race would stop, but a reverse wave followed - even non-rich countries are trying to acquire nuclear weapons, because having nuclear weapons is the only way to protect themselves from the threat from the major nuclear powers.

Another factor of the mechanism's inefficiency was revealed in the process of analyzing the experience of the UN in conflict resolution, for example, Yugoslavia or Abkhazia, it only manages to stop hostilities or transfer the conflict to the post-war period. But it is not possible to eliminate the cause of the conflict, which returns the situation to its original position. The cessation of hostilities does not eliminate the cause of the conflict, but only delays the solution of the problem, postponing its solution for an indefinite period.

But there is another point of view. According to many analysts, the failure of the UN in fulfilling its statutory task is due to the fact that disputes and threatening situations should be put on the agenda of the Security Council only by directly affected parties. But this is contrary to the provision of Article 36 of the Charter, according to which "any member of the UN may refer to the Security Council or the General Assembly any dispute or any situation that may give rise to international friction or dispute." But in our opinion, in this case, a situation arises in which, if the disputing parties, for some reason, are not concerned that the issue be submitted for consideration (For example, as was the case with the USA and the USSR during the Vietnam War or with Iran and Iraq in 1980), the issue will not be discussed at all, which means that the main mechanism that the founders of the UN hoped for - third party pressure on the parties directly involved in the conflict to reach a settlement will not be used. But at the same time, the armed intervention of third countries in conflicts related to the struggle for secession could only take place with the sanction of the Security Council and for the international community not to recognize the secession and formation of a new state if it happened against the will of the “mother” state.94

The Secretary General has a direct influence on the efficiency of the UN activities. Since, given the fluctuations in the Security Council, one could hope that it was the Secretary General who was responsible for ensuring that the situation that could lead to war was considered by the Council at an early stage in accordance with Article 99 “... The Secretary General has the right to bring to the attention of the Council Security Council on any matter which, in its opinion, may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security." The lack of completeness of information also reduces the efficiency of the General Secretary, preventing timely decisions to be made to resolve disputes. But not only the lack of completeness of information hinders the activities of the UN Secretary General. Thus, according to Boutros Ghali Boutros, who was the UN Secretary General from 1991-1996, he should have independence and autonomy in decision-making, as provided for by the UN Charter.95

As the next factor, I would like to note the so-called "timeliness factor", which consists in the fact that the Council does nothing until the conflict reaches the stage of open war, and the pace of decision-making on peacekeeping operations in "hot spots" and the rules that were followed when determining the parameters of such operations are not acceptable and are largely outdated. In turn, this is contrary to the UN Charter, namely, in accordance with Article 34 of the UN Charter, “The UN Security Council is authorized to investigate any dispute or any situation that may lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuation of this dispute or situation threaten the maintenance of international peace and security”, it follows from this article that the Council should examine situations that have not reached the stage of open conflict and determine whether this situation can become a hotbed of conflict. Chapter VI of the UN Charter highlights a whole range of procedures that the UN Security Council must carry out to prevent disagreements that could lead to friction. These include: investigations (Art. 34), consideration of Art. 35 “Any member of the organization may report any dispute or situation of the nature specified in Art. 34, to the attention of the UN Security Council or the General Assembly”, a State which is not a Member of the UN may also bring to the attention of the UN Security Council or the General Assembly any dispute to which it is a party if it assumes obligations in advance in respect of that dispute. peaceful settlement of disputes provided for in this Charter, and in accordance with Art. 36, the UN Security Council is authorized at any stage of a dispute, the continuation of which could threaten the maintenance of international peace and security, to recommend appropriate procedures or methods of settlement. In Art. 33 states that the parties to the conflict should first of all try to resolve the dispute by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, litigation, recourse to regional bodies or agreements, or other peaceful means of their choice. All these methods are aimed at preventing the situation from reaching an armed conflict. Unfortunately, today the UN Security Council does not adhere to these articles of the Charter and is inactive until the situation reaches the stage threatening international peace and security. Sometimes the intervention occurs at a time when it is very difficult to resolve the conflict, and sometimes it is not even possible.

The international organization of the united nations, in the world called the UN, was created during the Second World War with the aim of strengthening peace and security between states, as well as developing their cooperation.

UN structure

To ensure its activities, the UN has a strict structure. Each body in the structure of the organization is responsible for a certain aspect of international relations:

  1. The Security Council is responsible for maintaining peace between countries and ensuring their security. All UN member states are forced to obey the decisions of the Security Council, although it consists of only 15 representatives.
  2. The Secretariat has more than 40 thousand employees in its staff. In fact, they are all international personnel who ensure the work of the UN around the world.
  3. The Secretary General heads the secretariat and is elected from among the representatives of countries that are not members of the Security Council.
  4. The International Court of Justice is the body of the United Nations that carries out the judicial and legal activities of the organization.
  5. The Economic and Social Council help realize economic and social cooperation between countries respectively.
  6. The specialized agencies are approved by one of the above bodies in order to better fulfill their international obligations. The most famous among such organizations are the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO.

The UN and conflict resolution

Activities to promote the preservation of peace and security between countries are carried out primarily in the settlement of international conflicts. The UN organizes peacekeeping operations around the world. At the same time, investigations into the causes of conflicts are carried out, negotiations are underway, and in the event of signing truce agreements, their observance by all parties to the conflict is monitored.

If necessary, the UN provides humanitarian assistance to victims of international conflicts or natural disasters. It consists not only of the provision of medicines, food and basic necessities, but also of the rescue activities of the UN.

Comparison of the lofty and noble aspirations proclaimed in the UN Charter with those implemented in practice, with real methods and methods of their implementation, as well as the results and consequences of many UN actions, cannot but cause mixed feelings. The generalized indicator of the effectiveness of the UN for 55 years is as follows: at the end of the twentieth century. more than 1.5 billion people lived on less than $1 a day. More than 1 billion adults, mostly women, could not read or write; 830 million people suffered from malnutrition; 750 million people did not have access to adequate housing or health care.

The United Nations has certainly played a prominent role in history and will leave a stronger mark on it than its predecessor, the League of Nations. Figuratively speaking, the UN played the role of a kind of international constitutional assembly to coordinate the rules of law, which have become common not only for individuals, but also for entire states. And in this capacity, a lot has been done.

The undoubted achievement is the very unification of all peoples and states of the planet under the common banner of ensuring international peace and security. An unconditional achievement is also the recognition of the principle of the sovereign equality of all states and the universal obligation not to interfere in each other's internal affairs. Thanks to the world organization, the share and role of secret diplomacy have significantly decreased, the world has become more open, and humanity has become more informed about what is happening in it. The annual sessions of the General Assembly, which bring together the leading figures of almost all states of the world, give each state the opportunity to address the international community with its problems and concerns, and the inhabitants of the planet to find out in a timely manner what worries humanity as a whole in the first place.

With the active participation of the UN, important international legal acts were developed and adopted, which, in a certain sense, determined the course of world politics in the second half of the 20th century. Suffice it to say that already the first resolution, adopted by the General Assembly on January 24, 1946, dealt with the problems of the peaceful use of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other types of weapons of mass destruction.

Continuing the traditions of the League of Nations, the UN organized the work of its permanent body - the international Conferences on Disarmament in Geneva. It discussed the main ideas of the treaties on the prohibition of nuclear weapons tests: first in the atmosphere, underground and under water (signed in 1963), and then over the seas and oceans (1971). It also discussed the main ideas of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, according to which the nuclear powers pledged not to provide nuclear weapons to other countries, and states that did not yet possess such weapons - not to develop or produce them. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 10 and has been open for signature since September 24, 1996, that is, more than half a century after the adoption of the first UN General Assembly resolution on the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction. In 1972, an agreement was signed on a ban on the development, production and storage of bacteriological weapons, and 20 years later (in 1992) a similar document was signed with regard to chemical weapons. In 1990, it was possible to achieve the conclusion of an agreement on the reduction of conventional armed forces in Europe.

Mankind has long enjoyed the riches of the seas and oceans, but so far only a small fraction of what they can give people. Land, rivers and lakes have already been divided among peoples and states, belonging to those who live in the respective territories. Huge wealth is at the bottom of the seas and oceans, which are international. How to use them and on the basis of what right?

In 1958, the UN member states signed the Convention on the Continental Shelf, according to which the shelf of internationally agreed width is divided among all coastal states. In 1982, an international convention on the law of the sea was concluded. In connection with the beginning of space exploration, the question arose about the ownership of space objects and their natural resources. After lengthy discussions, in 1979 an agreement was signed on the activities of states on the Moon and other celestial bodies. These agreements and the Convention on the Continental Shelf proclaimed space, the deep seabed and its mineral resources common heritage of mankind.

According to these international agreements, it was established that:

1) the sphere of the common heritage of mankind is not subject to any appropriation by states, individuals and legal entities;

2) when using the resources of the common heritage of mankind, the interests of the entire international community should be taken into account;

3) states are obliged to ensure that the activities of their organizations and individuals in areas of the common heritage of mankind are carried out in strict accordance with international rules;

4) when developing resources in these areas, the necessary measures to protect the environment should be taken.

Another important field of activity of the UN is its assistance to the process of eliminating colonial dependence and gaining state independence by the peoples of Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Atlantic basins. An exceptionally important role in this process was played by the UN General Assembly in 1960. Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples". In accordance with it, more than 60 former colonies received state independence and became members of the UN. By the day of the 50th anniversary of the UN (in 1995), there were still 17 self-governing territories in the world. The jubilee session of the General Assembly declared the year 2000 the year of the end of colonialism. The UN also made a certain positive contribution to the process of settling political and ethnic conflicts in individual countries.

The role of the UN in the development of an international code of human rights is especially significant. The inalienability and inalienability of human rights is already mentioned in the UN Charter itself. It also says about the mission of the UN, which consists in the need "... to carry out international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural and humanitarian nature and in promoting and developing respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion”. Of lasting importance are Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1966 and entered into force in 1976. Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” and " Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". The states that signed them pledged to create all the necessary conditions for the realization of the human rights and freedoms proclaimed here. Many dozens of declarations and conventions on the rights and freedoms of various strata and groups of the population have been adopted in the development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international covenants on human rights. The achievements of the UN include the above-mentioned activities of the UN specialized agencies (UNESCO, WHO, ILO, etc.)

The UN achieved the greatest success in those areas of activity where the rivalry of the leading powers of the world was weaker. Although it cannot be denied that it was the leading powers of the world that made the most significant contribution to this success. Oddly enough, it was the rivalry between the USA and the USSR and the systems of social relations personified by them that played a good service to mankind, and significantly advanced it along the path of progress. Thus, over the 85 years of the 20th century, despite two devastating world wars, the world production of goods and services increased by more than 50 times. 80% of this colossal growth occurred during the period of the most acute confrontation between the two systems - from 1950 to 1985. During this period, the economic growth rate in the world was the highest in the history of mankind - about 5% annually. Of course, such development became possible due to many factors, including the scientific and technological revolution. In conditions of intense rivalry among themselves, the states sought to use them to the maximum advantage for themselves. All this taken together made it possible to achieve the highest rates of economic growth and the longest cycle of crisis-free development in the world. The merits of the UN and its specialized agencies in these successes are significant. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, "the ideological conflicts and divisions of the bipolar world have been replaced by ethnic and religious intolerance, political ambitions and greed, and are often exacerbated by the illegal trade in weapons, jewelry and drugs." The rate of economic growth also dropped significantly.

The international organization of the united nations, in the world called the UN, was created during the Second World War with the aim of strengthening peace and security between states, as well as developing their cooperation.

UN structure

To ensure its activities, the UN has a strict structure. Each body in the structure of the organization is responsible for a certain aspect of international relations:

  1. The Security Council is responsible for maintaining peace between countries and ensuring their security. All UN member states are forced to obey the decisions of the Security Council, although it consists of only 15 representatives.
  2. The Secretariat has more than 40 thousand employees in its staff. In fact, they are all international personnel who ensure the work of the UN around the world.
  3. The Secretary General heads the secretariat and is elected from among the representatives of countries that are not members of the Security Council.
  4. The International Court of Justice is the body of the United Nations that carries out the judicial and legal activities of the organization.
  5. The Economic and Social Council help realize economic and social cooperation between countries respectively.
  6. The specialized agencies are approved by one of the above bodies in order to better fulfill their international obligations. The most famous among such organizations are the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO.

The UN and conflict resolution

Activities to promote the preservation of peace and security between countries are carried out primarily in the settlement of international conflicts. The UN organizes peacekeeping operations around the world. At the same time, investigations into the causes of conflicts are carried out, negotiations are underway, and in the event of signing truce agreements, their observance by all parties to the conflict is monitored.

If necessary, the UN provides humanitarian assistance to victims of international conflicts or natural disasters. It consists not only of the provision of medicines, food and basic necessities, but also of the rescue activities of the UN.

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