The conflict over the region of Nagorny Karabakh, which involves Armenia and Azerbaijan, remains unresolved, but the situation on the ground in and around Nagorny Karabakh has not deteriorated in the past 12 months. The cease-fire agreed to on 12 May 1994 through the mediation of the Russian Federation has been observed to a large extent and no additional territory has been occupied.
The members of the Security Council have continued to support the peacemaking efforts of OSCE, which decided at its summit meeting at Budapest on 6 December 1994 to establish a co-chairmanship for its OSCE Minsk Conference and, inter alia, to conduct speedy negotiations for the conclusion of a political agreement on the cessation of the armed conflict that would permit the convening of the Minsk Conference and make it possible to deploy a multinational OSCE peace-keeping force in the region.
In its presidential statement of 26 April 1995 (S/PRST/ 1995/21), the Security Council reiterated its support for the efforts of the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Conference and, inter alia, strongly urged the parties to conduct negotiations constructively without preconditions or procedural obstacles and to refrain from any actions that might undermine the peace process. Furthermore, the Council stressed that the parties to the conflict themselves bore the main responsibility for reaching a peaceful settlement.
I remain prepared to provide my full support for the efforts of OSCE. To that end, the United Nations Secretariat has had a number of consultations with the OSCE High-level Planning Group to extend technical advice and expertise in the field of peace-keeping. I am also fully prepared, if so requested, to lend my good offices to the OSCE-led political process towards reaching a comprehensive settlement of the conflict.
During my visit to Baku and Yerevan in October/November last year, the first such visit of a Secretary-General to the newly independent transcaucasian nations, I was able to obtain a first-hand assessment of the very serious effects of this conflict, in particular in its humanitarian dimension, on both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Active humanitarian programmes coordinated by the Department of Humanitarian Affairs are being implemented in both countries. Activities of the 1995-1996 humanitarian programmes, as presented in the United Nations consolidated inter-agency appeal for the Caucasus (1 April 1995-31 March 1996), include relief projects in the food, non-food, shelter, education and health sectors, as well as capacity-building and projects addressing the transition from emergency assistance to development. As at 31 July 1995, 37.4 per cent ($10.5 million) of funding had been received for the Armenia component of the appeal and only 37 per cent ($12.8 million) of requirements pledged for humanitarian activities in Azerbaijan. It is anticipated that the majority of refugees and internally displaced persons in both Azerbaijan and Armenia, who are among the most vulnerable members of the population, will continue to require humanitarian assistance in the foreseeable future. I requested Under-Secretary-General Aldo Ajello to undertake a mission of goodwill to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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