[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 95 (Monday, June 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8176-S8177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--EXTRADITION TREATY WITH BELGIUM 
  (TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 104-7); SUPPLEMENTARY EXTRADITION TREATY WITH 
  BELGIUM TO PROMOTE THE REPRESSION OF TERRORISM (TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 
 104-8); AND EXTRADITION TREATY WITH SWITZERLAND (TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 
                                 104-9)

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President on behalf of the leader,
   as in executive session. I ask unanimous consent that the injunction 
of secrecy be removed from the following three treaties transmitted to 
the Senate on June 9, 1995, by the President of the United States:

  Extradition Treaty with Belgium (Treaty Document No. 104-7);
  Supplementary Extradition Treaty with Belgium to Promote the 
Repression of Terrorism (Treaty Document No. 104-8); and
  Extradition Treaty with Switzerland (Treaty Document No. 104-9).
  I further ask that the treaties be considered as having been read the 
first time; that they be referred, with accompanying papers, to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the 
President's messages be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The messages of the President are as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Extradition Treaty Between the 
United States of America and the Kingdom of Belgium signed at Brussels 
on April 27, 1987. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate 
is the report of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty.
  This Treaty is designed to update and standardize the conditions and 
procedures for extradition between the United States and Belgium. Most 
significantly, it substitutes a dual-criminality clause for the current 
list of extraditable offenses, thereby expanding the number of crimes 
for which extradition can be granted. The Treaty also provides a legal 
basis for temporarily surrendering prisoners to stand trial for crimes 
against the laws of the Requesting State.
  The provisions in this Treaty follow generally the form and content 
of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. Upon 
entry into force, it will supersede the Treaty for the Mutual 
Extradition of Fugitives from Justice Between the United States and the 
Kingdom of Belgium, signed at Washington on October 26, 1901, and the 
Supplementary Extradition Conventions to the Extradition Convention of 
October 26, 1901, signed at Washington on June 20, 1935, and at 
Brussels on November 14, 1963.
  This Treaty will make a significant contribution to international 
cooperation in law enforcement. I recommend that the Senate give early 
and favorable consideration to the Treaty and give its advice and 
consent to ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, June 9, 1995.
                                                                    ____

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Supplementary Treaty on 
Extradition Between the United States of America and the Kingdom of 
Belgium to Promote the Repression of Terrorism, signed at Brussels on 
April 27, 1987 (the ``Supplementary Treaty''). Also transmitted for the 
information of the Senate is the report of the Department of State with 
respect to the Supplementary Treaty. [[Page S8177]] 
  This Supplementary Treaty is designed to facilitate the extradition 
of terrorists, and is similar to the protocols to extradition treaties 
currently in force with other countries, including Australia, Canada, 
Spain, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United Kingdom. Upon 
entry into force, the Supplementary Treaty will amend the Treaty for 
the Mutual Extradition of Fugitives from Justice, signed at Washington 
on October 26, 1901, as amended by the Supplementary Conventions, 
signed at Washington on June 20, 1935, at Brussels on November 14, 
1963, if that Treaty is still in force, or the Extradition Treaty 
Between the United States and Belgium signed at Brussels on April 27, 
1987.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Supplementary Treaty and give its advice and consent to 
ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, June 9, 1995.
                                                                    ____

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Extradition Treaty Between the 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 
Swiss Confederation, signed at Washington on November 14, 1990. Also 
transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the 
Department of State with respect to the Treaty.
  The Treaty is designed to update and standardize the conditions and 
procedures for extradition between the United States and Switzerland. 
Most significantly, it substitutes a dual-criminality clause for a 
current list of extraditable offenses, so that the new Treaty will 
cover numerous offenses not now covered by our extradition treaty with 
Switzerland, including certain narcotics offenses, important forms of 
white collar crime, and parental child abduction. The Treaty also 
provides a legal basis for temporarily surrendering prisoners to stand 
trial for crimes against the laws of the Requesting State.
  The Treaty further represents an important step in combatting 
terrorism by excluding from the scope of the political offense 
exception offenses typically committed by terrorists for which both the 
United States and Switzerland have an obligation under a multilateral 
international agreement to extradite or submit to their authorities for 
the purpose of prosecution. These offenses include aircraft hijacking, 
aircraft sabotage, crimes against internationally protected persons 
(including diplomats), and hostage-taking.
  The provisions in this Treaty follow generally the form and content 
of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. Upon 
entry into force, it will supersede the Extradition Treaty of May 14, 
1900, and the Supplementary Extradition Treaties of January 10, 1935, 
and January 31, 1940, Between the United States of America and the 
Swiss Confederation.
  This Treaty will make a significant contribution to international 
cooperation in law enforcement. I recommend that the Senate give early 
and favorable consideration to the Treaty and give its advice and 
consent to ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, June 9, 1995.
  

                          ____________________