THE PRINCIPLE OF PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES

Abstract

International peace and security is one of the goals of the United Nations for which the entities that take part in international relations have to ensure permanent cooperative resources for the peaceful settlement of any dispute. Knowing the fact that without solutions through the means of peaceful settlement of disputes, there is no other option than the escalation of conflict and the use of force, the United Nations has given a special attention particularly to the promotion of the principles of international law that provide enough flexibility to overcome any deadlock. A principle of major importance is the principle of the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means. The permanent appeal of this principle in many resolutions and statements offered throughout time, not only by the United Nations, but also by other regional organizations, has the unique purpose of the strengthening international order based on the prohibition of force and coercion in the international relations. In this context, there is only one exception – the right to self-defense, a situation in which the use of force is allowed but without denying or neglecting the obligations to respect international law and justice.
The purpose of this article is to identify and present the most important official documents, resolutions and statements of the United Nations and other regional organizations that operate with the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes, and to highlight its connection with the other principles of international law as the principle of refraining from the threat or use of force in international relations, the principle of non-intervention in internal or external affairs of States, the principle of sovereign equality of States, and the principle of good faith in international relations, which all together sustain the goal of not endangering of international peace, security and justice.