3 April 2007
"Hayastani Hanrapetutyun" Daily
"Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute Develops in the Republic"
The Armenian Young Lawyers Association, the Union of Builders of Armenia, and the Defender of Rights Union implemented a project on elaboration and development of alternative dispute resolution for the representatives of small and medium enterprises. The Eurasia Foundation supported project was aimed at the development of ADR in different spheres of the public life.
Summarizing the project results during the press conference in “Armenpress” News Agency today, Mr. Ara Nazinyan, Country Director for Eurasia Foundation in Armenia, mentioned that the undertaking was aimed at combating the occurrences of the “oligarchic capitalism”, which hindered to the development of entrepreneurship and especially to the development of small and medium enterprises in the course of the last years. Mr. Nazinyan was sure that in order to promote wide range development of private entrepreneurship the disputes, which occur during the economic activities, should be solved through ADR, which is more preferable than the rather expensive court system. These methods are rather effective in different economic and social spheres. In many countries the ADR system is an affective approach for dispute resolution in the private sector.
Mr. Nazinyan also mentioned that as a result of the project, the first arbitration court in Armenia was established; over 500 entrepreneurs, lawyers and students received training and free consultations on mediation; a course on mediation was introduced into the curricula of the Russian-Armenian Slavonic University, revisions to the existing law on Arbitration were introduced to the government.
Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association, introduced the activities of his organization. He informed that AYLA had carried out a large-scale information campaign in Yerevan and six provinces of the RA. Over 290 entrepreneurs, lawyers and students attended 18 training courses. 25 mediators and arbitrators were trained during the courses. The graduates should provide mediation services and organize similar trainings in the provinces of the RA. Two thousand copies of the Guidebook on the Mechanisms for Alternative Dispute Resolution were distributed among the small and medium entrepreneurs.
Mr. Zadoyan mentioned that a new Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution is developing in the country. He emphasized the importance to establish a serious training center, which would train judges, mediators and arbitrators, as well as other experts of alternative dispute resolution.
Mr. Arthur Davtyan, Director of “Defender of Rights Union” NGO, mentioned that the Union had organized 12 round table discussions, two conferences and carried out TV debates. The entrepreneurs were introduced the legislation on Arbitration. Thousands of published booklets, 50 press announcements and 250 radio announcements promoted to the increase of the number of businessmen who applied for the services of the mediation court. The Union organized trainings on arbitration in seven institutes. 200 law students were trained in these courses.
According to Mr. Davtyan’s observation the small and medium entrepreneurs would suffer less financial and time losses in courts, if they would commit their dispute cases to a commercial arbitration court.
Mr. Gurgen Minasyan, Director of Union of Builders of Armenia, informed that the Union had directed its activities to the elaboration of ADR methods for solving the commercial disputes between the builder organizations. Mr. Minasyan mentioned that under the conditions of rapid development construction activities the small and medium building enterprises have faced the problem of quick and effective solving of the disputes, which arose between the economic transactors, contractor, subcontractor, supplier and services organizations. 120 members of the Union were selected as possible candidates of mediators/arbitrators, trained and received corresponding knowledge.
The Union publishes the periodical “Architecture, Construction,” which disseminated information on mediation. All three organizations have established commercial arbitrations adjacent to their structures.
The grantee organizations were selected through an open competition. The cost of the project components was 15-20 thousand USD each.
