The traditional gathering of world experts in the field of arbitration took place in Belgrade again this April. On 4 April 2014 the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law hosted the sixth Belgrade Arbitration Conference, one of the trademark events of this law school with an ever increasing number of participants. The topics discussed this year revolved around two defining factors of efficiency of arbitration proceedings – arbitrators’ powers and party autonomy (see Conference Program).
The opening ceremony begun with the words from the Dean of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law, Professor Dr. Sima Avramovic, who reminded the participants of the success of the previous conferences and expressed his satisfaction at the fact that the University of Belgrade Faculty of Law is organizing again such a prestigious event. On behalf of the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS), an esteemed partner in organization of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference, the participants of the conference were welcomed by Ms. Caroline Bechtel, DIS Case Menager, who expressed her satisfaction with the cooperation with the host institution on organization of the Belgrade arbitration conference and Belgrade Open Pre-Moot. She also introduced the DIS services to the Conference participants highlighting its distinctive features. In the name of the traditional partner in the organization of the Belgrade Arbitration Conference, GIZ Open Regional Fund for SEE, Ms. Adela Llatja took the floor and expressed her satisfaction that thecooperation on organization of these arbitration events has been so fruitful over the course of past seven years. Dr. Judith Knieper of UNCITRAL highlighted the role of UNCITRAL in the field of development of arbitration law and introduced the participants with the most recent developments in this area. Finally, Dr. Miroslav Paunovic, President of the Serbian Arbitration Association, expressed his satisfaction that the Serbian Arbitration Association has joined the pool of organizers of this highly important event and informed the participants of the recent developments in the field of arbitration in Serbia.