    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 10, 1999]
    [Page 2060]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Ukraine-United States Treaty on
    Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
    November 10, 1999

    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 Ukraine on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
    with Annex, signed at Kiev on July 22, 1998. I transmit also, for the
    information of the Senate, an exchange of notes which was signed on
    September 30, 1999, which 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. It 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,

    November 10, 1999.

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