SWISS GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT ICMP

TUZLA, Bosnia (26.September,2007) - The government of Switzerland continues to support the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). During his visit to the ICMP center in Tuzla, the Swiss Ambassador to Bosnia,Rolf Lenz, announced that the Swiss government will be contributing 80.000 Euros in 2008 to the ICMP.

This contribution will be used to support the project “Capacity Building for Associations of Families of Missing Persons – Fostering Mutual Understanding”. Mr. Lenz stressed that his country, respecting the priorities of the Swiss foreign policy, has been engaged for many years in the peace and stabilization process in Bosnia.

ICMP assists governments in the process of locating, recovering and identifying missing persons through the use of forensic archaeology, anthropology and DNA science. It provides policy assistance to governments in establishing appropriate laws and mechanisms to address the missing persons issue and it supports the development of networks of civil society organizations which advocate for truth, justice, and the rights of family members of missing persons.

“I believe that addressing the horrors of the past is very important for the prospects of the future”, said ICMP Director-General Kathryne Bomberger, when the funding was announced.

“ICMP could not have existed without the political and financial support of generous governments and their openhearted citizens. I should like to thank the government of Switzerland for their valuable support since 2001”, Bomberger added.

The work of ICMP is also supported by the governments of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, the Vatican, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. The C.S. Mott Foundation provides funding to ICMP for the “Paths to Reconciliation” project, ICMP said.