[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT 107-4 AND TREATY 
                             DOCUMENT 107-5

  Mr. REID. 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 May 6, 2002, by the President of 
the United States:
  Extradition Treaty with Lithuania, Treaty Document 107-4; and 
Stockholm Convention on Organic Pollutants, Treaty Document 107-5.
  I further ask unanimous consent 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 ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. 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 Extradition Treaty Between the 
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the 
Republic of Lithuania, signed at Vilnius on October 23, 2001.
  In addition, I transmit for the information of the Senate, the report 
of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty. As the report 
explains, the Treaty will not require implementing legislation.
  The provisions in this Treaty follow generally the form and content 
of modern extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States 
and will replace the Extradition Treaty of April 9. 1924, between the 
two countries and the Supplementary Extradtion Treaty of May 17, 1934. 
In conjunction with the new U.S.-Lithuania Mutual Legal Assistance 
Treaty that took effect in 1999, the Treaty will, upon entry into 
force, enhance cooperation between the law enforcement communities of 
the two countries. It will thereby make a significant contribution to 
international law enforcement efforts against serious offenses, 
including terrorism, organized crime, and drug-trafficking offenses.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, May 6, 2002.
                                  ____

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 Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants, with Annexes, done at Stockholm, May 22-
23, 2001. The report of the Secretary of State is also enclosed for the 
information of the Senate.
  The Convention, which was negotiated under the auspices of the United 
Nations Environment Program with the leadership and active 
participation of the United States, commits Parties to take significant 
steps, similar to those already taken by the United States, to 
eliminate or restrict the production. use, and/or release of 12 
specified persistent organic pollutants (POPs). When I announced that 
the United States would sign the Convention, I noted that POPs 
chemicals, even when released abroad, can harm human health and the 
environment in the United States. The Convention obligates Parties to 
take measures to eliminate or restrict the production, use, and trade 
of intentionally produced POPs, to develop action plans to address the 
release of unintentionally produced POPs, and to use best available 
techniques to reduce emissions from certain new sources of 
unintetionally produced POPs. It also includes obligations on the 
treatment of POPs stockpiles and wastes, as well as a science-based 
procedure to add new chemicals that meet defined criteria.
  The United States, with the assistance and cooperation of 
nongovernmental organizations and industry, plays an important 
international leadership role in the safe management of hazardous 
chemicals and pesticides. This Convention, which will bring over time, 
an end to the production and use of certain of these toxic chemicals 
beyond our borders, will positively affect the U.S. environment and 
public health. All relevant Federal agencies support early ratification 
of the Convention for these reasons, and we understand that affected 
industries and interest groups share this view.
  I recommend that the Senate give prompt and favorable consideration 
to the Convention and give its advice and consent to ratification, 
subject to the understanding described in the accompanying report of 
the Secretary of State, at the earliest possible date.
                                                      George W. Bush.  
The White House, May 6, 2002.

                          ____________________