[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 90 (Thursday, July 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S6764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S6764]]
 REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NOS. 106-35 and 106-
                                   36

  Mr. ROTH. 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 13, 2000, by the President 
of the United States: Treaty with Cyprus on Mutual Legal Assistance in 
Criminal Matters (Treaty Document No. 106-35); and Treaty with South 
Africa on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (Treaty Document 
No. 106-36).
  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 message be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The messages of the President are as follow:

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 Republic of 
Cyprus on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at 
Nicosia on December 20, 1999. 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. Together with the Extradition 
Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the 
Government of the Republic of Cyprus, which entered into force 
September 14, 1999, this Treaty will, upon entry into force, provide an 
effective tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of 
offenses, including organized crime, terrorism, drug-trafficking 
offenses, and other violent crimes as well as money laundering and 
other white collar crimes of particular interest to the U.S. law 
enforcement community. 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 other items; locating or identifying persons or items; serving 
documents; transferring persons in custody for testimony or other 
purposes; executing 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 favorable consideration to the 
Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
The White House, July 13, 2000.
                                  ____

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 Republic of 
South Africa on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at 
Washington on September 16, 1999. 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. Together with the Extradition 
Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the 
Government of the Republic of South Africa, also signed September 16, 
1999, this Treaty will, upon entry into force, provide an effective 
tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of offenses, 
including terrorism, organized crime, drug-trafficking offenses, and 
other violent crimes as well as money laundering, and other white 
collar crimes of particular interest to the U.S. law enforcement 
community. 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 articles of evidence; locating or identifying persons; serving 
documents; transferring persons in custody for testimony or other 
purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures; assisting in 
proceedings related to restraint or immobilization and confiscation or 
forfeiture of assets or property, compensation or restitution, and 
recovery or 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, July 13, 2000.

                          ____________________