    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [September 29, 2006]
    [Pages 1741-1742]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Malta-United States Extradition
    Treaty
    September 29, 2006

    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 Extradition Treaty between the
    United States of America and the Government of Malta, signed on May 18,
    2006, at Valletta, that includes an exchange of letters that is an
    integral part of the treaty. I also transmit, for the information of the
    Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the
    treaty.
        The new extradition treaty with Malta would replace the outdated
    extradition treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed
    on December 22, 1931, at London, and made applicable to Malta on June
    24, 1935. The treaty also fulfills the requirement for a bilateral
    instrument between the United States and each European Union (EU) Member
    State in order to implement the Extradition Agreement between the United
    States and the EU. Two other comprehensive new extradition treaties with
    EU Member States--Estonia and Latvia--likewise also serve as the
    requisite bilateral instruments pursuant to the U.S.-EU Agreement, and
    therefore also are being submitted separately and individually.
        The treaty follows generally the form and content of other
    extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. It would
    replace an outmoded list of extraditable offenses with a modern ``dual
    criminality'' approach, which would enable extradition for such offenses
    as money laundering and other newer offenses not appearing on the list.
    The treaty also contains a modernized ``political offense'' clause. It
    further provides that extradition shall not be refused based on the
    nationality of a person sought for any of a comprehensive list of
    serious offenses; in the past, Malta has declined to extradite its
    nationals to the United States. Finally, the new treaty incorporates a
    series of procedural improvements to streamline and speed the
    extradition process.
        I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration
    to the treaty.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     September 29, 2006.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    October 2.

    [[Page 1742]]