[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 139 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENTS NOS. 109-5 AND 109-6

  Mr. McCONNELL. 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 October 27, 2005, by 
the President of the United States: the Tax Convention with Bangladesh, 
Treaty Document No. 109-5; and the U.N. Convention Against Corruption, 
Treaty Document No. 109-6. 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 PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The messages of the President are as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  I transmit herewith for the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification a Convention Between the Government of the United States 
of America and the Government of Bangladesh for the Avoidance of Double 
Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on 
Income signed at Dhaka on September 26, 2004 (the ``Convention''). An 
exchange of notes is enclosed, and the report of the Department of 
State with respect to the Convention is transmitted for the information 
of the Senate.
  This Convention, which is similar to tax treaties between the United 
States and other developing nations, provides maximum rates of tax to 
be applied to various types of income and protection from double 
taxation of income. The Convention also provides for the resolution of 
disputes and sets forth rules making its benefits unavailable to those 
who are engaged in treaty forum shopping.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
this Convention and that the Senate give its advice and consent to 
ratification.
                                                      George W. Bush.  

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 United Nations Convention Against 
Corruption (the ``Corruption Convention''), which was adopted by the 
United Nations General Assembly on October 31, 2003. I also transmit, 
for the information of the Senate, the report of the Secretary of State 
with respect to the Corruption Convention, with an enclosure.
  The international fight against corruption is an important foreign 
policy priority for the United States. Corruption hinders sustainable 
development, erodes confidence in democratic institutions, and 
facilitates transnational crime and terrorism. The Convention will be 
an effective tool to assist in the growing global effort to combat 
corruption.
  The U.N. Corruption Convention is the first global multilateral 
treaty to comprehensively address the problems relating to corruption. 
It provides for a broad range of cooperation, including extradition and 
mutual legal assistance, and commits governments to take measures that 
will prevent corruption from happening in the first place. The 
Corruption Convention includes provisions to criminalize and prevent 
corruption and provides procedures for governments to recover assets 
that have been illicitly acquired by corrupt officials.
  The provisions of the Corruption Convention are explained in the 
accompanying report of the Department of State. The report also sets 
forth proposed reservations that would be deposited by the United 
States with its instrument of ratification. With these reservations, 
the Convention will not require implementing and consent to its 
ratification, subject to the reservations, understandings, and 
declarations described in the accompanying report of the Department of 
State.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Corruption Convention and give its advice and consent to its 
ratification, subject to the reservations, understandings, and 
declarations described in the accompanying report of the Department of 
State.
                                                      George W. Bush.  



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