HONG KONG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) holds significant importance in peaceful dispute resolution, experts have said, expecting that the organization will continue to enhance Hong Kong's position in the fields of international law and dispute resolution.
The signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed, held on Friday in Hong Kong, was attended by about 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations. Among them, 33 countries signed the convention on-site, making them the founding members of the IOMed.
Anna Joubin-Bret, secretary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, said that compared with litigation and arbitration, mediation is much more consensual. Calling it "more friendly" and "win-win," she said mediation is less costly and more efficient dispute resolution.
Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said China's initiative to establish the IOMed was timely and represented an important contribution to strengthening the multilateral system.
Abu Bakarr Karim, ambassador of Sierra Leone to China, said that the global South developing countries are quite challenged, particularly when it comes to key issues, adding that "the organization would help us seek ways of managing disputes or issues that are challenging."
Bret said that what was missing in the international framework for dispute resolution is an effective mechanism to enforce international disability agreements. Danilo Turk, former president of Slovenia, echoed that the convention on the establishment of IOMed is an extremely important step forward.
"Conciliation is a widespread practice in diplomacy, but it needs a framework. And the convention offers such a framework, hopefully leading to organize the practice in the future for the benefit of the international community as a whole," Turk said.
Boris Kelecevic, deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for East Asia, said that after the establishment of the IOMed, there will be "a forum where armed conflicts would end through mediation ... and a forum where potential peacemakers and negotiators can speak up."
At the signing ceremony, John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, welcomed the establishment of the world's first intergovernmental international legal organization dedicated to resolving international disputes through mediation in Hong Kong, adding that Hong Kong will give full play to its institutional advantages of "one country, two systems" and fully support the operation of the IOMed.
Bret said Hong Kong is in a very good position to be the headquarters of the IOMed. It is located in the middle of a very energetic and active region, and is a place bridging common law and continental law systems.
Participants also highly recognized China's leadership and contribution in the development of international dispute resolving mechanisms. Cameroonian Minister of External Relations Lejeune Mbella said China's advocacy for the establishment of the IOMed demonstrates its commitment and influence and is in line with the spirit of the UN Charter.
It is widely believed at the event that the establishment of IOMed as a milestone further underscores the necessity and feasibility of multilateralism and the concept of peaceful dispute resolution in the current complex international landscape. It can be anticipated that, with the continuous refinement of the organization's systems and the addition of more members, the IOMed will have a profound impact on dispute resolution and peaceful development both regionally and globally. Enditem
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