Arbitration and Mediation in the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) Countries – EU Relations Conference
- European Union
- 07/21/2008
The past May 21st of 2008 the Association for International Arbitration AIA hosted the Arbitration and Mediation in the ACP –EU Relations Conference. The event held at the ACP secretariat in Brussels attracted a very diverse group of people African, Caribbean, Pacific as well as EU regions’ delegates were either present or involved in the organization of this conference.
The President of the Association, Mr. Johan Billiet a known Arbitrator and Mediator and attorney at law, partner of Billiet & Co, took the initiative of creating a pool for discussion regarding arbitration issues in the commercial relations between the group of countries of the ACP group and the EU nations. The conviction and good management of his proposal resulted in a wonderfully put together blend of ideas in a variety of interests.
The event was graced with the intervention of many who collaborated in the preparation of an extensive number of presentations posing different topics that surrounded the issues affecting trade and commerce among a wide range of cultural and economic backgrounds. Furthermore, the attendance of some of the members of the association was the highlight of its achievement, given AIA’s intent to be responsive to members’ interest in arbitration and mediation matters.
A brilliant moderator, Mrs. Chitra Radahuski, guest from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD, whose expertise wrapped around the thought-provoking presentations in a responsive and harmonic atmosphere, provided a key element to the success of this ambitious project of AIA.
The conference panel of speakers was filled with expert interventions and a high level of knowledge from personalities in the field such as Mr. Justice Duke E. Pollard, Mr. Srilal Perera, Mr. Paul-Jean Le Cannu, Mr. Aloysius Gng, Mr. Colin Brown, Ms. Mahnaz Malik, Mr. Charles Claypoole, Dr. Emmanuel Awuku, Dr. Gaston Kenfack Douajni; who joined this event from several places in the area of focus of the conference.
The contributions of the speakers were collected in a book published by AIA, which can be purchased through the AIA’s website. This conference also brought together a great number of questions and new ideas contributed by the attendees. The attendees interventions has been collected in a text of conclusions made available as well on the AIA’s website.
Altogether, the Arbitration and Mediation in the ACP- EU Relations Conference was, certainly a day with a busy agenda in a full program of sessions and the social lunch and cocktail gatherings.
