[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 115 (Wednesday, September 8, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10636-S10637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NOS. 106-6 AND 106-7

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Madam 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 September 8, 1999, by 
the President of the United States: International Convention for the 
Expression of Terrorist Bombings (Treaty Document No. 106-6); and 
Treaty with Dominican Republic for Return of Stolen or Embezzled 
Vehicles, with Annexes, (Treaty Document No. 106-7).
  I further ask that the treaties be considered as having been read the 
first time, they be referred with accompanying papers to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations, and 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 International Convention for the 
Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted by the United Nations 
General Assembly on December 15, 1997, and signed on behalf of the 
United States of America on

[[Page S10637]]

January 12, 1998. The report of the Department of State with respect to 
the Convention is also transmitted for the information of the Senate.
  In recent years, we have witnessed an unprecedented and intolerable 
increase in acts of terrorism involving bombings in public places in 
various parts of the world. The United States initiated the negotiation 
of this convention in the aftermath of the June 1996 bombing attack on 
U.S. military personnel in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in which 17 U.S. Air 
Force personnel were killed as the result of a truck bombing. That 
attack followed other terrorist attacks including poison gas attacks in 
Tokyo's subways; bombing attacks by HAMAS in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem; 
and a bombing attack by the IRA in Manchester, England. Last year's 
terrorist attacks upon United States embassies in Nairobi and Dar es 
Salaam are recent examples of such bombings, and no country or region 
is exempt from the human tragedy and immense costs that result from 
such criminal acts. Although the penal codes of most states contain 
provisions proscribing these kinds of attacks, this Convention 
provides, for the first time, an international framework for 
cooperation among states directed toward prevention of such incidents 
and ensuing punishment of offenders, wherever found.
  In essence, the Convention imposes binding legal obligations upon 
States Parties either to submit for prosecution or to extradite any 
person within their jurisdiction who commits an offense as defined in 
Article 2, attempts to commit such an act, participates as an 
accomplice, organizes or directs others to commit such an offense, or 
in any other way contributes to the commission of an offense by a group 
of persons acting with a common purpose. A State Party is subject to 
these obligations without regard to the place where the alleged act 
covered by Article 2 took place.
  Article 2 of the Convention declares that any person commits an 
offense within the meaning of the Convention if that person unlawfully 
and intentionally delivers, places, discharges or detonates an 
explosive or other lethal device in, into or against a place of public 
use, a state or government facility, a public transportation system, or 
an infrastructure facility, with the intent (a) to cause death or 
serious bodily injury or (b) cause extensive destruction of such a 
place, facility or system, where such destruction results in or is 
likely to result in major economic loss. States Parties to the 
Convention will also be obligated to provide one another legal 
assistance in investigations or criminal or extradition proceedings 
brought in respect of the offenses set forth in Article 2.
  The recommended legislation necessary to implement the Convention 
will be submitted to the Congress separately.
  This Convention is a vitally important new element in the campaign 
against the scourge of international terrorism. I hope that all states 
will become Parties to this Convention, and that it will be applied 
universally. I recommend, therefore, that the Senate give early and 
favorable consideration to this Convention, subject to the 
understandings and reservation that are described in the accompanying 
State Department report.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, September 8, 1999.
                                  ____

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 Dominican 
Republic for the Return of Stolen or Embezzled Vehicles, with Annexes, 
signed at Santo Domingo on April 30, 1996. 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 stolen vehicles treaties being 
negotiated by the United States in order to eliminate the difficulties 
faced by owners of vehicles that have been stolen and transported 
across international borders. When it enters into force, it will be an 
effective tool to facilitate the return of U.S. vehicles that have been 
stolen or embezzled and taken to the Dominican Republic.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Treaty, with Annexes, and give its advice and consent to 
ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, September 8, 1999.

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