    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [June 9, 1995]
    [Pages 842-843]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Switzerland-United States
    Extradition Treaty
    June 9, 1995

    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
    Swiss Confederation, signed at Washington on November 14, 1990. Also
    transmitted for the information of the Senate is the report of the
    Department of State with respect to the Treaty.
        The Treaty is designed to update and standardize the conditions and
    procedures for extradition between the United States and Switzerland.
    Most significantly, it substitutes a dual-criminality clause for a
    current list of extraditable offenses, so that the new Treaty will cover
    numerous offenses not now covered by our extradition treaty with
    Switzerland, including certain narcotics offenses, important forms of
    white collar crime, and parental child abduction. The Treaty also
    provides a legal basis for temporarily surrendering prisoners to stand
    trial for crimes against the laws of the Requesting State.
        The Treaty further represents an important step in combatting
    terrorism by excluding from the scope of the political offense exception
    offenses typically committed by terrorists for which both the United
    States and Switzerland have an obligation under a multilateral
    international agreement to extradite or submit to their authorities for
    the purpose of prosecution. These offenses include aircraft hijacking,
    aircraft sabotage, crimes against internationally protected persons
    (including diplomats), and hostage-taking.
        The provisions in this Treaty follow generally the form and content
    of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. Upon
    entry into force, it will supersede the Extradition Treaty of May 14,
    1900, and the Supplementary Extradition Treaties of January 10, 1935,
    and January 31, 1940, Between the United States of America and the Swiss
    Confederation.
        This Treaty will make a significant contribution to international
    cooperation in law enforcement. 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,

    June 9, 1995.

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