It is the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations (UN). President Ilham Aliyev visited the USA to participate in the meeting dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Organization. In New York, he met with a number of company executives and heads of state.
It should be noted that the UN was established in 1945 after World War II with the aim of preserving peace and international security.
The UN's areas of activity include issues such as conflict prevention, peace restoration, coordination of humanitarian aid, and strengthening of international law.
Despite 80 years of activity, the organization's effectiveness has always been a subject of discussion.
The Modern.az website has investigated the UN's achievements to date, the criticisms directed at it, and the organization's relations with Azerbaijan.
UN's Successes and Failures
The UN's history has witnessed several important peace missions. In the Korean War from 1950–1953, an international coalition established by a UN Security Council decision protected the existence of South Korea. In the 1956 Suez Crisis, the UN deployed peacekeeping forces for the first time, preventing the escalation of the war. In countries like Namibia and East Timor, independence was achieved as a result of long-term UN oversight. In African countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone, and other regions – UN peacekeeping missions played a significant role in stopping wars and ensuring stability.
However, the UN is unable to resolve serious military conflicts that affect the entire world economically and politically. For example, for 3 years now, no effective steps have been taken to stop Russia's war in Ukraine. According to 2024 statistics, the number of refugees from Ukraine is approximately 6.8 million people.
Similarly, Israel's military operations in Gaza have been ongoing for nearly 2 years.
As a result of the war in Gaza, more than 65,000 Palestinians have lost their lives. Women, children, and the elderly constitute the majority of the deceased. According to the latest information, more than 84,000 deaths have been recorded in the war in Gaza. As a result of the war, 90% of Gaza's population has left their homes and become refugees. This means approximately 1.9 million people. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international organizations are carrying out various operations to provide humanitarian aid to these refugees. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is very severe. Water, food, medical services, and other basic necessities are severely restricted. Many hospitals and health centers have either been damaged or ceased operations. The UN and other international organizations are calling on the international community to be more active in providing humanitarian support. However, the UN is still unable to stop this bloody war.
Azerbaijan-UN Relations
In the modern history of Azerbaijan, the UN's activities are particularly remembered in connection with the former “Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.” For Azerbaijan, which was admitted as a member in 1992, the most important moment was the four resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in 1993: documents numbered 822, 853, 874, and 884. These resolutions demanded the immediate withdrawal of Armenia from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the recognition of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and the establishment of a ceasefire. However, the non-implementation of these decisions for many years raised questions about the UN's political influence.
In the 1990s and subsequent period, relevant UN bodies provided humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons. This aid covered areas such as shelter, food provision, and educational support.
Due to the UN's inefficiency, Azerbaijan itself implemented the resolutions listed above by military means in 2020 and liberated its territories from occupation.
During the Second Karabakh War, which took place in October-November 2020, the UN Secretary-General and relevant agencies expressed their readiness for humanitarian aid and called on the parties for a ceasefire. Nevertheless, the UN did not deploy a peacekeeping mission in the conflict zone, and this issue led to various discussions in the region. Currently, Azerbaijan cooperates with the UN within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and the organization's support plays an important role in the restoration of the liberated territories.
Effectiveness and Criticisms
Azerbaijan's experience with the UN shows that the resolutions adopted by the organization are important for supporting international law, but their implementation remains limited due to political difficulties and the existence of the veto mechanism. Political interests in the Security Council, lack of resources, and the absence of consent from conflict parties weaken the UN's influence.
For the Azerbaijani public, the UN is primarily valued as a source of humanitarian activity and international legitimacy.
Finally, it should be noted that the UN's 80-year history is rich with successes and challenges. Its humanitarian and peace missions in various regions confirm the organization's importance. At the same time, Azerbaijan's experience shows that reforms in UN structures and the strengthening of authority mechanisms are crucial for the implementation of resolutions and real impact.
