[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 136 (Tuesday, September 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12632-S12633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENTS 104-16, 104-17, AND 
                                 104-18

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, 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 September 5, 1995, by the 
President of the United States:
  Extradition treaty with the Philippines, Treaty Document 104-16; 
Convention for the Protection of Plants, Treaty Document 104-17; and 
Treaty 

[[Page S 12633]]
with Philippines on Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Treaty 
Document 104-18.
  I further ask unanimous consent 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 President's messages 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 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 
Republic of the Philippines, signed at Manila on November 13, 1994.
  In addition, I transmit for the information of the Senate, the report 
of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty. As the report 
explains, the Treaty will not require implementing legislation.
  Together with the Treaty Between the Government of the United States 
of America and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines on 
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, also signed November 13, 
1994, this Treaty will, upon entry into force, enhance cooperation 
between the law enforcement communities of both countries. It will 
thereby make a significant contribution to international law 
enforcement efforts.
  The provisions in this Treaty follow generally the form and content 
of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States.
  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, September 5, 1995.
                                                                    ____

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith for Senate advice and consent to ratification the 
International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants 
of December 2, 1961, as Revised at Geneva on November 10, 1972, on 
October 23, 1978, and on March 19, 1991, and signed by the United 
States on October 25, 1991 (hereinafter ``the 1991 Act of the UPOV 
Convention''). I transmit for the information of the Senate, the report 
of the Department of State with respect to the Convention.
  Ratification of the Convention is in the best interests of the United 
States. It demonstrates a domestic commitment to effective protection 
for intellectual property in the important field of plant breeding. It 
is also consistent with the United States foreign policy of encouraging 
other countries to provide adequate and effective intellectual property 
protection, including that for plant varieties.
  I recommend, therefore, that the Senate give early and favorable 
consideration to the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention and give its 
advice and consent to ratification subject to a reservation under 
Article 35(2), which allows parties to the existing Convention (the 
1978 Act) to retain their present patent systems for certain varieties 
of plants.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, September 5, 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 Treaty Between the Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the 
Philippines on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at 
Manila on November 13, 1994. I transmit also, for the information of 
the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the 
Treaty.
  The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance 
treaties being negotiated by the United States in order to counter 
criminal activity more effectively. The Treaty will enhance our ability 
to investigate and prosecute a wide variety of crimes, including drug 
trafficking and terrorism offenses. The Treaty is self-executing.
  The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Mutual assistance availability under the Treaty includes: 
taking of testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, 
records, and items of evidence; serving documents; locating or 
identifying persons or items; transferring persons in custody for 
testimony or other purposes; executing requests for searches and 
seizures; assisting in proceedings related to forfeiture of assets, 
restitution, and collection of fines; and any other form of assistance 
not prohibited by the laws of the Requested State.
  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, September 5, 1995.

                          ____________________