    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [July 10, 1995]
    [Page 1071]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1071]]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Latvia-United States Investment
    Treaty
    July 10, 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 Treaty Between the Government of
    the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of
    Latvia Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of
    Investment, with Annex and Protocol, signed at Washington on January 13,
    1995. I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the report of
    the Department of State with respect to this Treaty.
        The bilateral investment Treaty (BIT) with Latvia will protect U.S.
    investors and assist Latvia in its efforts to develop its economy by
    creating conditions more favorable for U.S. private investment and thus
    strengthening the development of the private sector.
        The Treaty is fully consistent with U.S. policy toward international
    and domestic investment. A specific tenet of U.S. policy, reflected in
    this Treaty, is that U.S. investment abroad and foreign investment in
    the United States should receive national treatment. Under this Treaty,
    the Parties also agree to international law standards for expropriation
    and compensation for expropriation; free transfer of funds associated
    with investments; freedom of investments from performance requirements;
    fair, equitable, and most-favored-nation treatment; and the investor's
    or investment's freedom to choose to resolve disputes with the host
    government through international arbitration.
        I recommend that the Senate consider this Treaty as soon as
    possible, and give its advice and consent to ratification of the Treaty,
    with Annex and Protocol, at an early date.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    July 10, 1995.