I.

INTRODUCTION
II. OVERVIEW
COMMITTEE´S BACKGROUND
ACHIEVEMENTS

III. ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CRISIS

IV. KEY POINTS FOR DEBATE
V. ANNEXES

LIST OF COUNTRIES

REFERENCES
I. INTRODUCTION

During this debate, you will discuss the topic of the Armenia-Azerbaijan crisis.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, political tension increased between the two countries
involved. The main cause was the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region in the
borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan. These tensions between both parties resulted in
an armed conflict that remains as a hotspot in the region.

The Security Council expects great outcomes from the debate.

Welcome to the Olinca Model United Nations (Olinmun) 2024.

Yours sincerely,
Mateo Romero Maria Fleming

Head of Committee of SC Chair of SC

Héctor Diego Salazar Sarah San Pedro

Moderator of SC Deputy Chair of SC

NOTE: We highly recommend you to thoroughly read the following document, as well
as the Delegate Handbook, which we hope will be useful to have an overview of the
topics we will be debating and crucial information about the rules of procedure.

II. OVERVIEW

A. Committee’s Background

The Security Council is one of the main organs of the United Nations. It is responsible for
peacekeeping, publishing international sanctions and authorizing military interventions all
around the globe. With World War II, the League of Nations ended up in failure. To address
this issue, the United Nations was created and with it, the Security Council too.

The Security Council has 15 Members, five that are permanent: France, the Russian
Federation, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and China. These five
members have veto power, which allows them to override a resolution, provided by Article 27
of the UN Charter. Even if a resolution has the minimum of nine votes, if a country with veto
power votes against it, the resolution does not pass. The ten remaining members are
non-permanent, as the General Assembly elects them for a term of two years.

The Security Council determines the existence of an act of aggression or threat to peace. It
also calls upon the parties to a dispute to solve and settle this act of aggression by peaceful
means. It recommends terms of settlement or methods of adjustment. In some cases, the
Security Council can resort to imposing actions or authorizing the use of force to restore or
maintain international peace and security.

The functions and powers of the Security Council are under the United Nations Charter, and
these are:
- To maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and
purpose of the United Nations;
- To investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international conflict;
- To recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
- To determine the existence of a threat to peace or act of aggression and to
recommend what action should be taken;
- To call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving
the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
- To take military action against an aggressor;
- To recommend the admission of new Members;
- To recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary General
and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of
Justice.
The Security Council has authorized fifty-nine peacekeeping operations responding to failing
states, civil armed conflicts, or complex humanitarian emergencies and deploying to conflict
zones in the absence of cease-fires or party's consent.

B. Committee’s Achievements
Throughout history, the Security Council has reached more than 2,500 resolutions with the
objective of preserving peace in the world by avoiding major conflicts or stopping smaller
ones from spreading. Unlike other UN organs, the Security Council is allowed to sanction
different countries when they commit a dishonest act. The Council has also given
authorization to more than 70 missions to maintain peace in the most dangerous regions of
the world. These missions have been one of the most important achievements of the Council
since most of them have been successful and have avoided great tensions that could have
triggered even larger conflicts.

It should be noted that although the committee has an important number of achievements
related to world peace, it also has its own limitations since each country is free to accept a
resolution from this organ or not. Being a committee with few members also represents a
limitation since certain countries may not feel represented.

III. THE ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CRISIS

At the beginning of the 20th century, contemporary territories such as Armenia and
Azerbaijan were part of the Russian Empire, until the 1917 Russian revolution. Armenia and
Azerbaijan became independent territories which claimed Nagorno-Karabakh as part of their
nation (Ioanes,2023). Few years later the Soviet Union annexed both territories, freezing
this dispute for several years. Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union many territories have
claimed their independence.Within these zones was the Caucasus, were countries as
Armenia and Azerbaijan have claimed their independence and their own territory. Yet,
territories as Nagorno-Karabakh have been claimed by both nations causing a conflict
between them. The nationalist feeling and the natural resources make this land important
and beneficial for both nations. Most of the population in this area identify as Armenian
citizens, nevertheless, Nagorno-Karabakh was largely controlled by Azerbaijan (Ioanes,
2023).

Many armed conflicts have taken place in this territory through several years and it has been
destructive for both sides. The latest interventions, being the 1994, 2016 and 2023 have
been the most fatal conflicts of all (CPR, 2023). During 1994 the Armenia government with
the support of Russia obtained control of this territory. More than 10,000 people died and 1
million refugees departed from this territory. Both nations signed a truce, but not a peace
treaty. After several years, in 2016, the conflict began with the mobilization of Azerbaijan
troops to control this territory. The armed conflict was called “the four-day war” referring to its
duration and hundreds of soldiers from both sides were lost. This episode stopped with a
ceasefire that lasted 6 years with Azerbaijan taking control of Nagorno-Karabakh (Mpoke,
2023).

In 1994, Russia brokered a ceasefire known as the Bishkek Protocol, which left
Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent territory with a self-proclaimed government.
Nevertheless, Nagorno-Karabakh was heavily reliant on close economic, political, and
military ties with Armenia as 95% of its population identified themselves as such (Mpoke,
2023). The Bishkek Protocol formally remained in force until September 2020. Both nations
accused each other of ceasefire violations causing tensions to rise.

The continuous attacks between both nations have led to efforts to hold talks for a peace
treaty, but instead there has been a rise in their military equipment. Long-range artillery and
heavy weaponry were acquired by Armenia and Azerbaijan leading to more tensions. The
United Nations, France, the United States and Russia have frequently failed in their intention
for a peace treaty. Yet, Russia has succeeded in a humanitarian corridor -Calle Lachin
corridor- which will connect Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. The Lachin corridor has
worked since 2020 and has been monitored by Russian peacekeepers (CPR, 2023).

After the victory of Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023, the United Nations
high court ordered Azerbaijan to receive Armenians who live there and assure them safety
and protection for their documents, even though they are not part of their nation. During
November 2023, peace talks took place between these countries. According to Armenia’s
prime minister the peace treaty bases have been established between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, yet Baku’s (Azerbaijan’s capital) position is clear (Crisis Group, 2023). The
United States offered these nations to hold talks in Washington D.C, but Azerbaijan’s
government accused the U.S of having a biased point of view of the conflict, as previously
the U.S encouraged a peaceful resolution benefitting Armenia’s position. For this reason, the
effort was rejected by Azerbaijan (Aliyev, 2023).

Even though they have progressed on the declaration of a peace treaty, military movements
have been made by both nations. Armenia bought military equipment such as air defense
systems by the French government. According to the U.S. Secretary of State, Azerbaijan
regional ambitions are now targeting the Zangezur corridor, which borders Armenia and
Azerbaijan (Crisis Group, 2023). This would increase the risk in the Southern Caucasus, an
area where Turkey, Russia and Iran have strategic interest due to the geopolitical benefits
and natural resources for energy production.
 IV. KEY POINTS FOR DEBATE

• Armenians’ safety in Nagorno-Karabakh

Safety for the Armenians who live in Nagorno-Karabakh should be provided even though
they have different ethnicities.

• World community support and position

Understanding the position of each delegation according to beliefs and alliances.

• Geopolitical importance of the southern Caucasus

Understanding the importance of such areas for economic and political reasons.

• Continuous acquirement of military equipment

Why do the countries continue getting military equipment if there are peace treaty talks in
course?

• Solid treaty to prevent future conflicts

What conditions will prevent future conflicts between both nations? Peace efforts must be
solid and long term.

• Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s interests in Nagorno-Karabakh

Why is this region important for both nations since the beginning of the 20th century?

• Understanding previous peace treaties and ceasefires

Analyze the lack of effectiveness previous treaties have had and the consequences which
are still present to the day.

V. ANNEXES

Annex I: List of Countries

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bulgaria
China
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
India
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America

Annex II: References

● Armenia and Azerbaijan. (n.d.). European Civil Protection and Humanitarian

AidOperations.https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/where/europe/
armenia-and-azerbaijan_en

● Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict » AZERBAIJAN » Official web-site of President

ofAzerbaijanRepublic.(n.d.).https://president.az/en/pages/view/azerbaijan/karabak

● Current members | United Nations Security Council. (s. f.). Retrieved 19 of

December of 2023, from
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/current-members
● How Armenia and Azerbaijan’s conflict could still destabilize the region. (2023, 29
September). Vox. Retrieved 28 of October of 2023, from
https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/9/23/23886844/conflict-nagorno-karabakh-a
zerbaijan-armenia-russia-turkey-explained

● Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict. (2023, 28 September). Center for Preventing Action.

Retrieved 3 of October of 2023, from
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/nagorno-karabakh-conflict

● Singh, R. (2023, 17 diciembre). US veto of Gaza ceasefire: Why only five countries
have veto power in the UN Security Council. The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 of
December of 2023, from
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/everyday-explainers/permanent-five-veto
-power-unsc-explained-9071707/

● The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: A visual Explainer. (2023, November 10). Crisis

Group.https://www.crisisgroup.org/content/nagorno-karabakh-conflict-visual-explaine
r

● Understanding the Dispute Between Armenia and Azerbaijan. (2023, 28 September).

The New York Times. Retrieved 3 of October of 2023,
fromhttps://www.nytimes.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-clashes.htm