Conflicts, instability continue.

Armed confrontations, civil disturbances and ensuing economic chaos persisted towards the end of 1993 in some former Soviet republics - especially Armenia, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan - jeopardizing their political stability and regional security, and seriously aggravating the overall humanitarian situation. From October through December, the UN continued its monitoring and mediation efforts in the newly independent States, acting through its interim offices - established in 1992 in seven countries - and special missions sent to conflict zones.

Following is an overview of some recent developments (for report on Georgia, see p. 69).

Armenia, Azerbaijan

Expressing serious concern that continuing conflict in and around Nagorny Karabakh - an Armenian-populated enclave in Azerbaijan - would endanger peace and security in the region, the Security Council on 12 November demanded from the parties concerned the "immediate cessation of armed hostilities and hostile acts".

In unanimously adopting resolution 884 (1993), it also demanded the "unilateral withdrawal of occupying forces" from the Zangelan district, the city of Goradiz and other recently occupied areas of Azerbaijan.

Welcoming the 4 November Declaration of the Minsk Group of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), which contained proposals for unilateral cease-fire declarations, the Council strongly urged the parties to "resume promptly and to make effective and permanent" the cease-fire established with the assistance of the Russian Federation in support of the Minsk Group. it also urged them to continue to seek a negotiated settlement within the Minsk process.

Armenia was called upon to use its influence to achieve compliance with previous Council resolutions by the Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh, and to "ensure that the forces involved are not provided with the means to extend their military campaign further".

On 14 October, the Council had called for immediate implementation of the Minsk Group's "adjusted timetable of urgent steps" to implement Council resolutions 822 (1993) and 853 (1993), including withdrawal of forces from occupied territories and "removal of all obstacles to communications and transportation".

In unanimously adopting resolution 874 (1993), the Council also called for "unimpeded access for international humanitarian relief efforts in all areas affected by the conflict", urging the parties to refrain from violations of international law.

Tajikistan

The small team of UN officials - five international and seven local staff - in Tajikistan should continue to perform their functions "until a decision is taken on the proposal to establish an integrated office", Security Council members recommended (S/26794) on 23 November. They also welcomed continuing CSCE efforts, encouraging closer coordination between the UN and the CSCE.

On 14 November, the Secretary-General reported (S/26743) that developments in Tajikistan gave grounds "both for hope for a political solution of the conflict and for serious concern at the risk of further deterioration of the situation". The Tajik Government and all major opposition groups should start a "serious process of negotiation without further delay".

The situation was especially difficult on the Tajik-Afghan border, it was reported. "Cross-border infiltration" by armed opposition groups from Afghanistan and fighting between them and government forces, as well as those of the Commonwealth of independent States (CIS), occurred on a "daily basis". Armed confrontation was intensifying inside the country, particularly in the Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan regions.

The Secretary-General warned that "instability could spill into neighbouring countries". He hoped the 24 September Moscow Accord on placing CIS coalition peace-keeping forces in Tajikistan could contribute to achieving "early agreement on political dialogue, cessation of hostilities and national reconciliation".

Ismat Kittani, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Tajikistan, on 3 January was named Special Political Adviser to the Secretary-General. Ramiro Piriz-Ballon of Uruguay had succeeded him as Special Envoy. [Mr. Kittani was to continue to oversee developments in the States of the former Soviet Union.]

Other matters

Welcoming the withdrawal of the military forces of the Russian Federation from Lithuania, the General Assembly on 15 November, in resolution 48/18, called on the States concerned to conclude without delay agreements for the "early, orderly and complete withdrawal of foreign military forces", including timetables for their departure, from Estonia and Latvia.

Early in 1994, three CIS countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - faced especially serious food supply problems, with nearly 1 million people needing emergency food assistance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) reported on 21 December. Tajikistan and neigbouring Afghanistan also experienced serious food shortages.