The military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh territory hadn’t drawn attention of international community for a long time since it happened. Initially the world community was uninterested in resolving the conflict, because this problem was among the factors that anticipated the collapse of the USSR and its elimination could negatively affect the destructive process within the USSR. It is of interest to note that just the Kremlin had prepared the scenario of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Soviet authority in the Kremlin creating conflicts in various parts of the Union due to the principle “Divide and rule” tried to take attention away from the real problems of the country. Thus, they wanted to create obstacles for national liberation movements in union republics. However, this plan played the role of boomerang for the USSR itself. Ethnic conflicts not only couldn’t prevent the collapse of the empire, just on the contrary, accelerated the process. The Armenians had conducted dead serious campaign before the conflict to get the world community’s support. The Armenian diaspora was a leading force in these activities.

In 1992, the Armenian military forces expanded their military operations aiming to occupy more Azerbaijani territories.

However, the international organizations turned a blind eye to the Armenians’ expansionist policy and violation of international legal rules and norms. Of course, UN, OSCE and EU had adopted certain resolutions and declarations. But these documents didn’t concretely reflect the true reasons of the conflict and didn’t tell the difference between the aggressor and the country that had undergone aggression.

In March 1992, Azerbaijan became a member of the UN. Thereafter, Azerbaijan turned to the UN asking to express its attitude towards Armenia’s invasive policy and prevent Armenia from conducting its policy of grab. The UN Delegation visited the region and filled the UN Secretary General in on the situation. The UN Secretary General  responded by saying that they endorsed the efforts of OSCE in settling this conflict and they were ready to do what one could do (Up to 1995 OSCE had been titled as the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE)). They were the first ‘cold’ symptoms of world community to this conflict. The invasion of Shusha in 1992 forced Azerbaijan to address to UN over again. 

In 1992, the occupation of Shusha made Azerbaijan turn to the UN once again.

On May 12 the Security Council of UN sufficed by discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and issuing a statement.  The statement was spread on behalf of the Chairman of the Security Council. The statement expressed anxiety about the worsening situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the necessity of rendering urgent assistance to the internally displaced persons.

Resolution 822

In 1993, another district of Azerbaijan – Kalbajar was occupied by the Armenians. Azerbaijan turned to the UN asking to evaluate the aggressor’s action. On April 6, 1993, the Security Council of UN issued a statement expressing grave concern at the displacement of a large number of civilians and the humanitarian emergency in the region, in particular in the Kelbajar district. But even this statement didn’t truly sum up the situation.

The issue is that the Armenia’s expansionist policy wasn’t stressed in the document and as if the occupation of Kalbajar had been carried out by ‘local Armenians.

On April 30, 1993, the Security Council of UN issued its first statement on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict on the Nagorno-Karabakh. ‘’RESOLUTION 822 (1993) of the Security Council of UN based on recalling the statements of the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1993 (S/25199) and of 6 April 1993 (S/25539) concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The UN Security Council expressed its serious concern at the deterioration of the relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan,

noted with alarm the escalation in armed hostilities and, in particular, the latest invasion of the Kelbadjar district of the Republic of Azerbaijan by local Armenian forces. The UN Security Council demanded the immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces from the Kelbajar district and other recently occupied areas of Azerbaijan. This Resolution of the UN Security Council in fact was not powerful enough to stimulate the achievement of peace in the region. However, this statement did not assess the problem properly. The point is that the attitude to Armenia's invasive policy was not reflected in the document and it stressed that ostensibly the "local Armenians" occupied Kalbajar. Let us note that this statement was mainly based on the information provided by Armenia. Armenia refuted the facts put down by Azerbaijan concerning participation in the occupation of Kalbajar and tried to prove that "local Armenians" were to blame in the region's occupation.

RESOLUTION 822 (1993)

Adopted by the UN Security Council at its 3205th meeting, on 30 April 1993

The Security Council,

Recalling the statements of the President of the Security Council of 29 January 1993 (S/25199) and of 6 April 1993 (S/25539) concerning the Nagorny Karabakh conflict,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General dated 14 April 1993 (S/25600),

Expressing its serious concern at the deterioration of the relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan,

Noting with alarm the escalation in armed hostilities and, in particular, the latest invasion of the Kelbadjar district of the Republic of Azerbaijan by local Armenian forces,

Concerned that this situation endangers peace and security in the region,

Expressing grave concern at the displacement of a large number of civilians and the humanitarian emergency in the region, in particular, in the Kelbadjar district,

Reaffirming the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States in the region,

Reaffirming also the inviolability of international borders and the inadmissibility of the use of force for the acquisition of territory,

Expressing its support for the peace process being pursued within the framework of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and deeply concerned at the disruptive effect that the escalation in armed hostilities can have on that process,

1. Demands the immediate cessation of all hostilities and hostile acts with a view to establishing a durable ceasefire, as well as immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces from the Kelbadjar district and other recently occupied areas of Azerbaijan;

2. Urges the parties concerned immediately to resume negotiations for the resolution of the conflict within the framework of the peace process of the Minsk Group of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and refrain from any action that will obstruct a peaceful solution of the problem;

3. Calls for unimpeded access for international humanitarian relief efforts in the region, in particular in all areas affected by the conflict in order to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population and reaffirms that all parties are bound to comply with the principles and rules of international humanitarian law;

4. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Chairman-in-Office of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe as well as the Chairman of the Minsk Group of the Conference to assess the situation in the region, in particular in the Kelbadjar district of Azerbaijan, and to submit a further report to the Council;

5. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.