Summary - Rules of succesfull negotiations according to Uri Savir

There are then three main factors of negotiations: the strategical approach, the tactical aspects and the negotiation's inclusivity.

The first strategic rule of negotiations, is to be prepared by knowing not only the topic but also one's country's national security interests for the future - Uri Savir calls this “creating a vision”.

Furthermore, it is of great importance to “ to see the other side as what they are: human beings.

Another rule is to keep a certain balance within the negotiation: The negotiation should represent a “give and take” where not the most powerful party wins on all points but where concessions are made to keep the peace negotiation alive.

As for the tactical aspects, Savir points out “proactivity “ and creativity in designing compromises as the most important feature: “Good negotiators are creative negotiators”.

Tactically, it can be useful to start with well-written and firm opening position that still leaves space for future compromises and paves a graduate way towards solutions.

A third important factor of negotiations is inclusivity, in other words the secrecy of negotiations. Even though there are many (also reasonable) arguments against it, the secrecy of a negotiations allows more opportunities for either party to take risks in making concessions which would otherwise not be made due to public opinion/ media coverage.

Uri Savir also sees the chemistry between negotiators, the courage of negotiators to speak up to their own bosses and the bilateral character of negotiations as major aspects of successful negotiations.

In a nutshell: “it's better to have a imperfect peace than a perfect war” and negotiations are “the good common architecture of the future”.