International mediation as a conflict resolution strategy in peace building process: The cases of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nagorno Karabakh

In this study, mediation, which is an international dispute resolution method and also one of the resolution methods expressed in the 33rd article of the 6th chapter of the UN Charter, titled "Peaceful Resolution of Disputes", is discussed within the framework of the Bosnia-Herzegovina and Nagorno-Karabakh cases. The study's primary purpose is to reach a set of hypotheses that are open to testing on the conditions and factors that affect the success of international mediation by comparing the cases in question. As for data collection technique, the study relied on interviews with relevant or expert people and any other other secondary data available. In the first part of the study, the mediation institution has been described in detail. In the second part, information about the Bosnia-Herzegovina Crisis was given, and the mediation process in the said crisis was examined. In the third chapter, firstly, information about the Nagorno-Karabakh problem was given, and mediation attempts were examined, and evaluations were made about their success. According to the results, in the light of the previously adopted criteria, international mediation activities in the Bosnia-Herzegovina crisis were evaluated as successful. In contrast, the mediation process in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was evaluated as unsuccessful in general. With the framework of this finding some proposals and suggestions were given about key factors of successfull mediation.