    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [January 28, 1998]
    [Page 133]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Latvia-United States Mutual Legal
    Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty With Documentation
    January 28, 1998

    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 United States
    of America and the Republic of Latvia on Mutual Legal Assistance in
    Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on June 13, 1997. I transmit
    also, for the information of the Senate, an exchange of notes that was
    signed the same date as the Treaty and that provides for its provisional
    application, as well as 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. The Treaty should be an effective
    tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of crimes, including
    drug trafficking offenses. 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 of testimony or
    statements of persons; providing documents, records, and articles of
    evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying persons;
    transferring persons in custody for testimony or other purposes;
    executing requests for searches and seizures; assisting in proceedings
    related to restraint, confiscation, 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 and favorable consideration
    to the Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    January 28, 1998.