[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8284-S8285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 105-16 AND TREATY 
                          DOCUMENT NO. 105-17

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaties transmitted to the Senate on July 28, 1997, by the President 
of the United States:
  Extradition Treaty with Cyprus, Treaty Document No. 105-16, and WIPO 
Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) (1996) and WIPO Copyright 
Treaty (WCT) (1996), Treaty Document No. 105-17.
  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 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 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 
Republic of Cyprus (``the Treaty''), signed at Washington on June 17, 
1996.
  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.
  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, July 28, 1997.
                                  ____

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith for Senate advice and consent to ratification the 
World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty and the World 
Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty, 
done at Geneva on December 20, 1996, and signed by the United States on 
April 12, 1997. Also transmitted is the report of the Department of 
State with respect to the Treaties.
  These Treaties are in the best interests of the United States. They 
ensure that international copyright rules will keep pace with 
technological change,

[[Page S8285]]

thus affording important protection against piracy for U.S. 
rightsholders in the areas of music, film, computer software, and 
information products. The terms of the Treaties are thus consistent 
with the United States policy of encouraging other countries to provide 
adequate and effective intellectual property protection.
  Legislation is required to implement certain provisions of the 
Treaties. Legislation is also required to ensure that parties to the 
Treaties are granted, under U.S. copyright law, the rights to which 
they are entitled under the Treaties. That legislation is being 
prepared and is expected to be submitted shortly.
  I recommend, therefore, that the Senate give early and favorable 
consideration to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances 
and Phonograms Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification, 
subject to a declaration under Article 15(3) of the WIPO Performances 
and Phonograms Treaty described in the accompanying State Department 
report.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, July 28, 1997.

                          ____________________