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ECONOMIC CHAMBER OF MACEDONIA

АПМ Mediation Support bsi. ISO
9001
years Association (APM) Quality
Management
1922 - 2016
СТОПАНСКА КОМОРА НА МАКЕДОНИЈАFS549642

Osnovana 1922

ECONOMIC CHAMBER OF MACEDONIA

Founded 1922

MEDIATION SUPPORT ASSOCIATION (APM) PROMOTES LATEST ACTIVITIES

The Mediation Support Association Presents Informative Brochure on Mediation under the Motto: Promotion -
Progress - Success (available at www.apm.mk)

In every part of the world, a central activity of chambers
of commerce is to support and promote alternative
and efficient methods of dispute resolution, including
mediation as one such method, by informing companies
about their applicability and principles. In addition,
commercial chambers must be well-informed about the
implementation of European rules and standards, more
specifically directives and other acts adopted by the EU,
the recommendations of the Council of Europe and other
related documents. The Economic Chamber of Macedonia
encourages these activities and is providing complete
support to the development of mediation. This was stated by Jelisaveta Georgieva PhD, President of the Mediation Support
Association (APM), at a press conference on 12 September 2016.

MEDIATION Association President Georgieva said the support to mediation voiced by the Economic Chamber of Macedonia
complemented the Macedonian government’s endorsement of mediation through the adoption of the Law on Mediation in
2006, and the subsequent adoption of relevant amendments and modifications to the Law in 2013.

APM President Georgieva underlined that the Economic Chamber of Macedonia was the country’s largest business
association that united the biggest number of member companies. As such, the Chamber was the first institution of its
kind that designed and added a new service to its portfolio dedicated exclusively to support in mediation, available to
both member and non-member companies. Membership in the Mediation Support Association is not limited to mediators
licensed under the Law on Mediation only, as the Association encourages membership and participation of mediation
experts, companies, institutions and every person or entity interested in making a contribution to raising awareness about
mediation. The Mediation Support Association is committed to improving local knowledge in this field by establishing ties
and cooperation with foreign associations of a similar nature. In addition, the Association presents its activities to other
bodies within the Chamber, thereby gathering support from entities working in different sectors and fields. President
Georgieva underlined that the Mediation Support Association would be cooperating with the Mediators Chamber of RM, the
Chamber of Enforcement Agents, the Chamber of Notaries, the Lawyers Association, as well as with all public institutions
from Macedonia interested in supporting mediation, in undertaking activities to promote this alternative method of
dispute resolution.

At the moment, the Association is undertaking activities to promote mediation, said Association Member Dragar Dameski
LL.M. The first informative brochure of the Association, launched under the motto ‘Promotion - Progress - Success’ was
developed as part of the initial promotional activities. Interested companies can get more information about mediation
possibilities by visiting the Association’s website www.apm.mk, which contains relevant facts about the Mediation Support
Association.

”Mediation provides a number of advantages in comparison with other processes, namely: It is voluntary, confidential, more
efficient, faster, cost-saving, fair as the settlement takes into account the interest of the two parties, and makes sure that
the parties stay in good business relations,” said Slave Mladenovski M.Sc., member of the Mediation Support Association.
Mladenovski added that mediation could be applicable and efficient in a variety of disputes. Usually, mediation was applied
in disputes concerning property relations, as well as in family, labor, trade, consumer and insurance disputes, education-
related disputes, environmental protection disputes, discrimination-related disputes, and in many other areas where
mediation is well-suited to the nature of the dispute and can assist its resolution. Mediation can also be applied in criminal
disputes, unless a relevant applicable law stipulates otherwise. Mediation can be free of charge when both parties and the
mediator agree that no fees will be charged or when this is stipulated by law.

Association member Ilija Manasiev LL.M. talked in greater detail about the activities undertaken by the Economic
Chamber of Macedonia and the Mediation Support Association. He emphasized that the joint efforts of the Chamber and
the Association resulted in successful mediation seminars in Stip, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Ohrid, Prilep and Bitola, which
attracted more than 120 participants. Mr. Manasiev said the promotional events and the feedback provided by companies
and participants could be shaped into a plan for activities to be undertaken by the Association in the future. Namely, the
Mediation Support Association could organize discussions on draft laws and of other regulations, could issue opinions
and suggestion on matters of common interest to members, and could launch initiatives to adopt new or amend existing
regulations.

Jelisaveta Georgieva PhD, President of the Mediation Support Association (APM) within the Economic Chamber of Macedonia

86 October 2016