Seven phases for international mediation  derived from SCm
A survey of international negotiations indicates that the main procedure usually follows a negotiation model ( I William Zartman, Negotiation and Conflict Management. Essays on theory and practice. Routledge 2008.) From my experiences of SCm, used during twenty years to solve group bullying, I have derived a proposal for a shared-concern-centered approach for international negotiations. It follows seven phases.

  1. Use only one mediator (accompanied perhaps by an assistant) and keep the number of negotiating teams from both parties restricted (3 possibly 4 member at both sides).

  2. The mediator starts with a general introduction for the both groups about the philosophy of shared concern, explains the phases of the Shared Concern method and then continuing if an agreement about the procedure is obtained.

  3. The mediator meets all individual members of both teams in talks where they are encouraged to express their worries about the present situation. The mediator needs to be a good listener who does not seek the guilt or give advice.

  4. After the mediator has created confidence by his empathetic listening in individual talks he asks about suggestions for a solution the other side could also accept.

  5. The mediator has separate meetings with the both groups reinforcing the propositions that may be accepted by both sides.

  6. The mediator displays shuttle diplomatic activity conveying to the parties propositions that the other side could accept.

  7. The summit meeting takes place only if there is a strong probability of a shared solution. After an agreement has been reached the mediator raises the question: what would we do if one of the sides does not keep the agreement? To the suggestions presented the mediator adds an other idea: tolerance of smaller offences against the agreement.