Illustrative image (Photo: Portal of military policy sector) Brussels (VNA) – The Vietnam Academy ofScience and Technology (VAST), the International Commission on Missing Persons(ICMP), and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) recentlyorganised a scientific workshop in The Hague to launch technical cooperation in identifyingwar remains.
Withinthe framework of a working visit by VAST Vice President Chu Hoang Ha fromFebruary 13-17, the event was part of a cooperation programme recently signed between the ICMP and VAST in October 2022 with an aim to help Vietnam apply new technology todetermine the identity of fallen soldiers by means of DNA.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to theNetherlands Pham Viet Anh thanked scientists, political activists, USAID and the ICMP for persistently promoting cooperation with Vietnamese scientists andhelping families of fallen soldiers identify their remains.
ICMPDirector General Kathryne Bomberger, international scientists and USAID alsoexpressed their interest in boosting stronger collaboration, contributing toeasing the pain of war in Vietnam and other places.
The ICMP wasfounded in 1996 under the initiative of former US President Bill Clinton with aview to supporting the search and identification of missing persons due to war,violence, natural disasters, organised crime, among others.
Headquarteredin The Hague, its leadership comprises prominent figures such as the Queenof Norway, former Prime Ministers or Foreign Ministers of various countries. Itscurrent Chairman of the Board of Commissioners is former US Ambassador ThomasMuller.
In December2022, it admitted Nguyen Thi Thu Thao, the first Vietnamese member, to itsBoard of Commissioners.
It is calling on countries to share data tohelp make the identification process easier./.
