Justice Minister George Floridis during the work of the event for the “Mediation Day” organized by the Acropolis Museum, the Organization for the Promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution Methods (OPEMED) and the Athens Bar Association, alternative ways of resolving disputes.

In particular, Mr Floridis said that the institution of mediation must proceed and be loved by lawyers, chambers and citizens in order to result in and deconstruct the courts from a large volume of court. “They must all understand that they will win the arbitration institution,” the Minister of Justice said, adding that the law schools must be taught as the institution of arbitration as a lesson.

SAA President Dimitris Vervesos said the results of the arbitration are not encouraging according to last year’s statistics. Still, the President of the SAA said that lawyers cannot embrace the arbitration, when they do not participate in the dialogue and possibly new arrangements not succeed if they do not participate in the upcoming legislative initiatives of the Ministry of Justice and lawyers. Mr Vervesos also said that the arbitration institution needed incisions to succeed.

OPEMED President Costas Menoudakos said that the rhythms of justice are touching the negative, as there are pathogens, but through arbitration it may be improved.

Mr Manoudakos also said that 2010 when the arbitration institution began was addressed with mistrust and now a basic prerequisite for the development of the institution is to develop the necessary culture.

Panagiotis Pikrammenos Award

During the event, former service prime minister, former Vice -President of the Government, former president of the CoE and first president of OPEMED Panagiotis Pikrammenos, was awarded.

OPEMD Secretary General Nikolas Kanellopoulos referred to the journey of the arbitration institution and the contribution of Panagiotis Pikrammenos to him.

Messrs. Floridis and Menoudakos awarded a symbolic award to Mr. Pikrammenos.

The latter thanked OPEMED for the honor and pointed out that the non -acceptance of the arbitration was because it is opposed to the mentality of the Greek who always wants to win.

Indeed, Mr Pikrammenos said the numbers are not positive about the institution of arbitration, but that does not mean that it must stop. On the contrary, the Minister of Justice’s efforts to set up a special secretariat of mediation must be strengthened and is positive.

Also, speakers at the event were lawyer and mediator ‘Anna Zournatzis, Professor of Civil Law at the Law School of EKPA Antonis Karampatzos, lawyer and mediation Eleni Koltsakis, Director of Research

Nicolas Kanellopoulos was coordinator of the discussion.