    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 9, 1998]
    [Page 927]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 927]]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Inter-American Convention Against
    the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition,
    Explosives, and Other Related Materials
    June 9, 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 Inter-American Convention Against
    the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition,
    Explosives, and Other Related Materials (the ``Convention''), adopted at
    the Special Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of
    American States (OAS) at Washington on November 13, 1997. The Convention
    was signed by the United States and 28 other OAS Member States on
    November 14, 1997, at the OAS Headquarters in Washington. So far, 31
    States have signed the Convention and one (Belize) has ratified it. In
    addition, for the information of the Senate, I transmit the report of
    the Department of State with respect to the Convention.
        The Convention is the first multilateral treaty of its kind in the
    world. The provisions of the Convention are explained in the
    accompanying report of the Department of State. The Convention should be
    an effective tool to assist in the hemispheric effort to combat the
    illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms, ammunition,
    explosives, and other related materials, and could also enhance the law
    enforcement efforts of the States Parties in other areas, given the
    links that often exist between those offenses and organized criminal
    activity, such as drug trafficking and terrorism.
        The Convention provides for a broad range of cooperation, including
    extradition, mutual legal assistance, technical assistance, and
    exchanges of information, experiences, and training, in relation to the
    offenses covered under the treaty. The Convention also imposes on the
    Parties on obligation to criminalize the offenses set forth in the
    treaty if they have not already done so. The Convention will not require
    implementing legislation for the United States.
        This treaty would advance important U.S. Government interests, and
    would enhance hemispheric security by obstructing the illicit flow of
    weapons to criminals such as terrorists and drug traffickers. In
    addition, ratification of this Convention by the United States would be
    consistent with, and give impetus to, the active work being done by the
    United States Government and this subject in other fora, such as the
    United Nations, the P-8 Group, and the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse
    Control Commission (CICAD).
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the Convention, and that it give its advice and consent to
    ratification.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    June 9, 1998.