site.btaBulgaria, Vietnam Exchange Expertise on Mediation

Representatives of the National Association of Mediators (NAM) met with a Vietnamese government delegation led by Deputy Justice Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Thanh Ngoc and Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet at the headquarters of the Union of Bulgarian Jurists in Sofia.

Milena Guncheva, a member of the management board of NAM, said that mediation is the shortest path to people's hearts. She presented the association's work, noting that mediators and mediation organizations view mediation not only as an alternative dispute resolution process but also as a means of educating mediators, students, and pupils.

Guncheva stressed the importance of further developing out-of-court mediation in Bulgaria, following the State's support for court-connected mediation. She also outlined the association's role in preparing legislative amendments in the field and collaborating with public institutions.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Ngoc highlighted the warm hospitality of the Bulgarian people, as well as the strong cooperation between the two countries. He noted that Bulgaria and Vietnam have dedicated mediation laws and explained that the purpose of the visit was not only to strengthen bilateral cooperation but also to learn from Bulgaria's experience in the field of mediation.

He added that Vietnam has both court-connected and out-of-court mediation. The latter is community-based and voluntary, carried out by mediators elected by local residents. The Deputy Minister added that mediation helps reduce litigation costs for the parties involved and saves time.