[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S5485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NOS. 105-47 AND 105-
                                   48

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed in the following 
treaties transmitted to the Senate on May 22, 1998, by the President of 
the United States:
  No. 1, the Treaty with Czech Republic on Mutual Legal Assistance in 
Criminal Matters, Treaty Document No. 105-47;
  No. 2, the Inter-American Convention on Sea Turtles, Treaty Document 
Number 105-48.
  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 Treaty Between the United States 
of America and the Czech Republic on Mutual Legal Assistance in 
Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on 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 more effectively. The Treaty should be an effective 
tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of crimes, 
including terrorism, other violent crimes, drug trafficking, money 
laundering, and other ``white-collar'' crime. The Treaty is self-
executing.
  The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes: 
locating or identifying persons or items; serving documents; taking 
testimony or statements of persons; transferring persons in custody for 
testimony or other purposes; providing documents, records, and articles 
of evidence; executing requests for searches and seizures; immobilizing 
assets; assisting in proceedings related to forfeiture of assets, 
restitution, and criminal fines; and providing any other assistance 
consistent with 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, May 22, 1998.
                                  ____

  

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 Inter-American Convention for the 
Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, with Annexes, done at 
Caracas December 1, 1996, (the ``Convention''), which was signed by the 
United States, subject to ratification, on December 13, 1996. I also 
transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the 
Secretary of State with respect to the Convention.
  All species of sea turtles found in the Western Hemisphere are 
threatened or endangered, some critically so. Because sea turtles 
migrate extensively, effective protection and conservation of these 
species requires cooperation among States within the sea turtles' 
migratory range. Although the international community has banned trade 
in sea turtles and sea turtle products pursuant to the Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the 
Convention I am transmitting is the first multilateral agreement that 
actually sets standards to protect and conserve sea turtles and their 
habitats.
  In section 609 of Public Law 101-162, the Congress called for the 
negotiation of multilateral agreements for the protection and 
conservation of sea turtles. In close cooperation with Mexico, the 
United States led a 3-year effort to negotiate the Convention with 
other Latin American and Caribbean nations. Once ratified and 
implemented, the Convention will enhance the conservation of this 
hemisphere's sea turtles and harmonize standards for their protection.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Convention and give its advice and consent to its ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, May 22, 1998.

                          ____________________