UN monitors continuing conflicts.

• Position: Conflicts within the former Soviet republics

Conflict situations continued throughout several former Soviet republics, particularly in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan where, from July through September, the UN monitored and mediated peace-keeping and economic developments. Central to these efforts were the UN interim offices, established in 1992 in seven newly independent States-Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan - where the Organization previously had not had field representation. These offices were created to ensure that the UN response to those nations' special requirements was "properly coordinated from the outset", the Secretary-General stated (A/48/146/Add.1) on 20 July.

They also provided an opportunity to devise a "new model for United Nations representation at the country level", he said, in support of an integrated approach that would address comprehensively the political, socio-economic, environmental and humanitarian dimensions within each country. In addition, they would support the Secretary-General's endeavours for preventive diplomacy and peacemaking, the report added.

Following is an overview of some important developments from July through September 1993.

Armenia, Azerbaijan

Escalation in armed Hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh - an Armenian-populated enclave in Azerbaijan-led the security Council on 29 July to express its, grave concern over the deteriorating situation in the area.

In unanimously adopting resolution 853 (1993), the Council demanded the immediate cessation of all hostilities and the "immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces involved from the district of Agdam and all other recently occupied areas of the Azerbaijani Republic".

It condemned "all hostile actions", particularly attacks on civilians and bombardments of inhabited areas, and called on the parties concerned to reach and maintain durable cease-fire arrangements.

Endorsing the continuing efforts of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), particularly preparations for its monitor mission, as well as the Proposal for its presence in the region, the Council urged the parties to refrain from any action that would obstruct a peaceful solution to the conflict. It supported negotiations towards a final settlement, both within the CSCE Minsk Group peace process and through direct contacts.

Armenia was called upon to "continue to exert its influence to achieve compliance by the Armenians of the...