[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 32 (Friday, March 20, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2372-S2373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT 105-37

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaty transmitted to the Senate on March 20, 1998, by the President of 
the United States: Treaty with Saint Kitts and Nevis on Mutual Legal 
Assistance in Criminal Matters, Treaty Document 105-37.
  I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the 
first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the 
President's message be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The message of the President is 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 Treaty Between the Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of Saint Kitts and 
Nevis on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at 
Basseterre on September 18, 1997, and a related exchange of notes 
signed at Bridgetown on October 29, 1997, and February 4, 1998. 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 activities

[[Page S2373]]

more effectively. The Treaty should be an effective tool to assist in 
the prosecution of a wide variety of crimes, including drug trafficking 
offenses. The Treaty is self-executing.
  The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes: taking 
of testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records, 
and articles of evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying 
persons; transferring persons in custody for testimony or other 
purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures; assisting in 
proceedings related to immobilization and forfeiture of assets; 
restitution; 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 related exchange of notes, and give its advice and 
consent to ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, March 20, 1998.

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