Essay Fragment by Oana Maroti

Negotiation is communication, with intersecting identities.

Negotiations often fail due to a lack of intercultural engagement and an imposed format.

First of all, the imposed format is an imposed language. Multilingual understanding is essential in international communication, but the best way to convey a message is to make sure that the sender feels comfortable and can therefore choose the language in which to express themselves.

To make ourselves understood in an international context, we must learn to be as transparent as possible by exposing ourselves to and understanding different cultures. I have seen countless examples of imposed language or denial of intercultural understanding, forcing communication to be stopped. No matter where we are, or in what language we communicate, we want to open communication, not close it. Message blocking can become a big problem.

As mediators, each identity is approached as an equal and if the parties do not comply, we impose civilized interaction, otherwise, negotiation is not possible. A correct negotiation is based on inclusive communication guidelines, the objective of which is that the main message is transmitted, and for this, the parties must be prepared with a common language and the same skills for identifying concepts.

To ensure neutrality and effective communication, the mediator must be a multicultural person, whose interaction is based on human rights knowledge and implementation.

Any superficial intercultural mediation that does not focus on what we have in common to facilitate transmission might become dangerous communication. The approach can lower or increase discomfort, and sudden discomfort should be totally avoided.

Even today, mediation favors certain parties, which produces disorder and abuse. The lack of equal opportunities is like a clock inside the collective memory. In the long run, no country can afford not to negotiate fairly.

Those who already resort too often to unfair negotiations and whose illicit policies and actions occupy long dark pages of history have only mediation and fair negotiation as a way out of the wave of hatred that their cruel policies have provoked.