[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[July 13, 2000]
[Pages 1432-1433]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Message to the Senate Transmitting the South Africa-United States Mutual 
Legal Assistance Treaty
July 13, 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 Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of South 
Africa on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at 
Washington on September 16, 1999. I transmit also, for the information 
of the Senate, 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. Together with the Extradition 
Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the 
Government of the Republic of South Africa, also signed September 16, 
1999, this Treaty will, upon entry into force, provide an effective tool 
to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of offenses, including 
terrorism, organized crime, drug-trafficking offenses, and other violent 
crimes as well as money laundering, and other white collar crimes of 
particular interest to the U.S. law enforcement community. 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 
the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records and 
articles of evidence; locating or identifying persons; serving 
documents; transferring persons in custody for testimony or other 
purposes; executing requests for searches and seizures; assisting in 
proceedings related to restraint or immobilization and confiscation or 
forfeiture of assets or property, compensation or restitution, and 
recovery or 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,

July 13, 2000.

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