(a) Unless the parties have otherwise agreed themselves on the person of the mediator or on another procedure for appointing the mediator, the appointment shall take place in accordance with the following procedure:
(i) The Center shall send to each party an identical list of candidates. The list shall normally comprise the names of at least three candidates in alphabetical order. The list shall include or be accompanied by a statement of each candidate's qualifications. If the parties have agreed on any particular qualifications, the list shall contain the names of candidates that satisfy those qualifications.
(ii) Each party shall have the right to delete the name of any candidate or candidates to whose appointment it objects and shall number any remaining candidates in order of preference.
(iii) Each party shall return the marked list to the Center within seven days after the date on which the list is received by it. Any party failing to return a marked list within that period of time shall be deemed to have assented to all candidates appearing on the list.
(iv) As soon as possible after receipt by it of the lists from the parties, or failing this, after the expiration of the period of time specified in the previous subparagraph, the Center shall, taking into account the preferences and objections expressed by the parties, appoint a person from the list as mediator.
(v) If the lists which have been returned do not show a person who is acceptable as mediator to both parties, the Center shall be authorized to appoint the mediator. The Center shall similarly be authorized to do so if a person is not able or does not wish to accept the Center's invitation to be the mediator, or if there appear to be other reasons precluding that person from being the mediator, and there does not remain on the lists a person who is acceptable as mediator to both parties.
(b) Notwithstanding the procedure provided in paragraph (a), the Center shall be authorized to otherwise appoint the mediator if it determines in its discretion that the procedure described therein is not appropriate for the case.
(c) The prospective mediator shall, by accepting appointment, be deemed to have undertaken to make available sufficient time to enable the mediation to be conducted expeditiously.