[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 106-19

  Mr. VOINOVICH. 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 February 2, 2000, by 
the President of the United States: Treaty with Egypt on Mutual Legal 
Assistance in Criminal Matters (Treaty Document No. 106-19).
  Further, I ask unanimous consent the treaty be considered as having 
been read for 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 the Arab Republic of 
Egypt on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Cairo 
on May 3, 1998. I transmit also a related exchange of diplomatic notes 
for the information of the Senate. The report of the Department of 
State with respect to the Treaty is enclosed.
  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 and 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 
the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records 
and items of evidence; locating or identifying persons or items; 
serving documents; 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, 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, February 2, 2000.

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