10.6.3 Third mediatory attempt: Dutch Minister of State Ruud Lubbers

Now that the conflict also affected diplomatic relations between India and the Netherlands, the Dutch government offered to facilitate a high-level mediatory attempt in November 2007. All parties had reached a difficult situation: CCC/ ICN and their Internet Service Providers felt troubled because of the pending international arrest warrants and FFI/JKPL was concerned about bankruptcy. All parties acknowledged the added value of such mediation. Each of them proposed names for a mediator. As it turned out, all parties involved accepted Mr Ruud Lubbers, the former Prime Minister and Minister of State of the Netherlands,1 as an independent mediator. In mid-December 2008, the Dutch government requested him to make himself available as a mediator. He agreed to take up this challenge.2 Just two weeks earlier, G-Star had announced the termination of its relationship with FFI/JKPL. The continuity of the Indian company was in jeopardy. The completion of the work-in-process orders would take approximately three months, after which FFI/JKPL would probably have to close its doors in Bangalore and Italy.