FAILED MEDIATION: WHY THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE (OSCE) MINSK GROUP CANNOT MEDIATE A LASTING POLITICAL SOLUTION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH.

This research study addressed the reasons why the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group has failed to mediate a lasting political solution in Nagorno- Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Minsk Group’s regional mandate is to assist in negotiating a peaceful settlement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This study focused on the 25-year, ongoing conflict between the Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan, over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The Minsk Group’s mediation strategies and efforts at conflict resolution and/or conflict settlement, combined with lack of political will of key players, contribute to prevent conclusion of a peaceful settlement. This study uses an historical approach of existing scholarship, comparative case studies of OSCE mediation efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh, geopolitical priorities, and challenges that the Minsk Group, Armenia, and Azerbaijan face, which prevent determination of the final status of Nagorno-Karabakh. The study reaffirmed that the Minsk Group failures are due to its limited role of mediation, and lack of proactive engagement to resolve this conflict. Furthermore, Russia’s dominance over the peace process, and unilateral engagement with Armenia and Azerbaijan to maintain the status quo, ultimately benefit Russian efforts to maintain its sphere of influence over the South Caucasus, while being a significant hinderance to the peace process. The study also affirmed that the U.S. and France, as Co-Chairs, are only minimally involved in mediating the conflict, and only direct attention towards Nagorno-Karabakh when the ceasefire breaks down into armed conflict