POWERS AND MAIN MECHANISMS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

Abstract

The concept of «international peace» usually means a state of absence of wars and conflicts between states, when the world community gives priority to resolving conflicts through dialogue and cooperation. «Security», on the other hand, refers to a state where states and their citizens are safe from threats, including military conflicts, terrorism, cyber-attacks, and economic and other threats. Today, in the context of a new aggression in the center of Europe against Ukraine, both of these concepts are extremely relevant. Violation of international peace and security in Ukraine threatens not only Ukraine itself but also the world order as a whole. Despite the fact that the UN Security Council has great potential in maintaining world peace and security, its role in resolving conflicts in the past has not always been effective. This scientific article is a study of the mechanism of activity of the UN Security Council as the main body for ensuring international peace and security, as well as existing problems in the sphere of activity of the UN Security Council. The author determines that international peace and security are mainly the most defining concepts of the creation and activities of the United Nations, and considers the activities of the UN Security Council precisely through the prism of the main regulator in ensuring international peace and security. The author’s research is aimed at a comprehensive analysis of regulatory and practical aspects of the UN Security Council’s activities in maintaining international peace and security. The article substantiates that the activities of the United Nations and the UN Security Council are directly related to ensuring such a world order that each state of the world acts in accordance with the principles of the Charter to the extent necessary to maintain international peace and security. In turn, the author concludes that in the implementation of this rule, the decisive role belongs to the Security Council, which is the most powerful UN body, since it is the only one competent to determine the state’s violation of its obligations in terms of respect for international peace and security. The scientific novelty of this study is that an attempt was made to scientifically consolidate all aspects, both modern and historical, of gaps and problems to ensure the UN’s sustainable international peace and security. Obviously, in accordance with the UN Charter, the Organization was born on the basis of the decision to protect future generations from the scourge of war, with the primary goal of maintaining international peace and security. Thus, based on the results of this article, it is logical to note that the maintenance of international peace and security is at the center of the activities of the United Nations, and especially the Security Council, since this is one of the main goals set forth in its Charter, which contains several tools to achieve this goal. To this end, it needs to take all measures to contain and prevent all causes that threaten international peace and security, and if they exist, to eliminate them. The UN Security Council plays a leading role in identifying threats to peace or acts of aggression. It calls on the parties to the dispute to settle it amicably and makes recommendations on the method or terms of the settlement. In some cases, the UN Security Council may resort to sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security. The Security Council shall consider matters relating to international security, in particular armed conflict, terrorism, the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, and threats to international security. The Security Council has the right to take decisions that are binding on all members of the UN. In exceptional cases, the Security Council has the authority to appoint UN peacekeeping missions in those regions of the world where international peace and security have been violated and it was impossible to restore peace by other means and methods, and these means have been exhausted. Also, the UN Security Council may provide its conclusions and recommendations, for example, on the admission of new members and the establishment of conditions for participants who wish to become parties to the Statute of the ICJ and make recommendations to the General Assembly. Nevertheless, despite the changes since 1945, the United Nations has failed to play a significant role in resolving several crises. Although the UN Security Council has great potential in maintaining international peace and security, its role in resolving conflicts in the past has not always been effective. The UN Security Council was unable to adopt a number of resolutions based on Chapter VII of the Charter and its binding norms, as well as resolve various disputes. Many times the Security Council has failed to prevent acts of aggression and protect the national security of UN member states. In the case of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the UN Security Council failed to take the necessary measures to stop the aggression and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. To date, Russia continues to pursue an aggressive policy towards Ukraine, and even though Russia is a member of the UN Security Council, it must and will bear responsibility for its actions.