    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [February 10, 2000]
    [Page 226]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Russia-United States Mutual Legal
    Assistance Treaty With Documentation
    February 10, 2000

    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 Russian Federation on Mutual Legal Assistance in
    Criminal Matters, signed at Moscow on June 17, 1999. I transmit also,
    for the information of the Senate, a related exchange of notes and 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
    terrorism, money laundering, organized crime and 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 obtaining
    the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records and
    other items; serving documents; locating or identifying persons and
    items; executing requests for searches and seizures; transferring
    persons in custody for testimony or other purposes; locating and
    immobilizing assets for purposes of forfeiture, restitution, or
    collection of fines; and any other form of legal assistance not
    prohibited by the laws of the Requested Party.
        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,

    February 10, 2000.