The International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP) was until recently based in Bosnia and Herzegovina and played a leading role in the collection and analysis of physical evidence of Srebrenica-related events in July of 1995. It has carefully nurtured an image of a professional organization composed of international experts. In “About ICMP” on its website (https://www.icmp.int/about-us/) the organization says the following about itself:
“ICMP works with governments, civil society organizations, justice institutions, international organizations and others throughout the world to address the issue of people who have gone missing as a result of armed conflict, human rights abuses, disasters, organized crime and other causes.
“As the only international organization that is exclusively dedicated to this issue, ICMP is actively engaged in developing institutions and civil society capacity, promoting legislation, fostering social and political advocacy, and developing and providing technical expertise to locate and identify the missing.
“ICMP works with governments to develop their institutional capacity to address the issue of missing persons efficiently and impartially.”
In an earlier, 2014, document ICMP was more forthcoming about its background: “The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) was established at the initiative of U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1996 at the G-7 Summit in Lyon, France, initially to secure the cooperation of Governments to locate persons missing from the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, and to provide the necessary assistance in that regard.”
In fact, not only was ICMP, a supposedly “impartial” organization, organized at the behest of the US, a major power with a political stake in the perception and utilization of Srebrenica, but it is also the US Secretary of State who designates the ICMP chairperson, who has always since the organization’s inception been an American citizen. The State Department Press Release below exemplifies how that system operates.
It seems that Srebrenica Historical Project associate George Pumphrey was not off the mark in his assessment of ICMP:
“The ICMP is a propaganda section of the US State Dept. Its chairman is appointed by the US Sec. Of State. As the State Dept.’s press statement (May 11, 2001) states: “Secretary Powell has appointed Jim Kimsey as the new U.S. chairperson of the International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), the leading organization involved in the identification of remains of people killed in recent conflicts in the Balkans. Mr. Kimsey is the Founding CEO and Chairman Emeritus of America Online, Inc.”
“Therefore this NGO-sounding institution is answerable neither to a scientific nor a judicial body. It is answerable solely to the US State Dept. and publishes “n’import de quoi” to serve the propaganda interests of its master. Many of their reports are so ambiguously worded that even if someone would attempt to verify their announcements, it would be impossible, because one is not sure if they are speaking of whole corpses or of pieces of corpses.”
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 11, 2001
Secretary Appoints New Chairperson
of the International Commission for Missing Persons
Secretary Powell has appointed Jim Kimsey as the new U.S. chairperson of the International Commission for Missing Persons (ICMP), the leading organization involved in the identification of remains of people killed in recent conflicts in the Balkans. Mr. Kimsey is the Founding CEO and Chairman Emeritus of America Online, Inc.
Mr. Kimsey has extensive experience as a member of the board of directors for several international organizations, both non-profit and for-profit. His notable business success, combined with his international humanitarian work, ensures he will provide excellent leadership to this important organization.
Under Mr. Kimsey’s leadership, the organization will continue to play a vital role in bringing closure to a large number of families and enabling the region to move beyond the problems of the past.
Past chairpersons include former Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, and most recently, former Senator Bob Dole.
We look forward to working with Mr. Kimsey during his tenure as U.S. chairperson of the International Commission for Missing Persons.
Released on May 11, 2001