Diplomat meets Mediator for Sound Advice

The Association of Business Trial Lawyers put on an awesome event last week, where Peter Robinson, Dean of Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Robert Mnookin, Harvard Project on Negotiation, and former Ambassador Dennis Ross, Middle East Special Coordinator spoke on "Lessons for Mediators from the Middle East Conflict". What a fascinating account of the skills and insights at a world level! I particularly enjoyed Ambassador Ross's tales of how he attempted to seize control of the negotiations, by his deft timing, like-ability and keen efforts to gain trust from both sides, and his manipulation of the accountability, by negotiation of public announcements periodically during the negotiations as a means of "testing" the veracity of the participants. Bravo to those who put on this program, and to those who aspire to achieve world peace through mediation efforts!