[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 39 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[Pages 1893-1894]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement on Cooperation in Promoting the Rule of Law and 
Combating Crime

September 28, 1994

    President Boris Yeltsin and President William Clinton, during their 
meeting in Washington on September 27 and 28, 1994, noted the threat 
which crime poses to the Russian and American societies and to the 
entire international community. Of particular concern to the Presidents 
was the rise in financial crime, nuclear materials smuggling, organized 
crime, and drug trafficking. They agreed that bilateral and 
international cooperative efforts would be necessary to combat this 
growing threat.
    The Presidents noted that cooperation in law enforcement between 
their two countries could in a substantial way help to resolve the 
problem of crime and should be institutionalized through bilateral 
agreements. To this

[[Page 1894]]

end, delegations from the United States and the Russian Federation held 
a first round of negotiations for an Agreement on Cooperation in 
Criminal Matters which commits each country to assist the other in 
criminal investigations and crime prevention. The Presidents expressed 
their intention to sign and bring into force as quickly as possible this 
Agreement. The Presidents also announced their intention to enter into 
negotiations for a broader Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
    President Clinton announced the intention of the United States to 
offer an expanded program of assistance to the Russian Federation, 
including technical assistance and training of personnel to support 
cooperation between the Russian Federation and the United States in 
promoting the rule of law and combating crime.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this statement.