[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 31, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 1995)]
[Page 1008]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Belgium-United States Extradition 
Treaty

June 9, 1995

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 Kingdom of Belgium signed at Brussels 
on April 27, 1987. Also transmitted for the information of the Senate is 
the report of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty.
    This Treaty is designed to update and standardize the conditions and 
procedures for extradition between the United States and Belgium. Most 
significantly, it substitutes a dual-criminality clause for the current 
list of extraditable offenses, thereby expanding the number of crimes 
for which extradition can be granted. The Treaty also provides a legal 
basis for temporarily surrendering prisoners to stand trial for crimes 
against the laws of the Requesting State.
    The provisions in this Treaty follow generally the form and content 
of extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. Upon 
entry into force, it will supersede the Treaty for the Mutual 
Extradition of Fugitives from Justice Between the United States and the 
Kingdom of Belgium, signed at Washington on October 26, 1901, and the 
Supplementary Extradition Conventions to the Extradition Convention of 
October 26, 1901, signed at Washington on June 20, 1935, and at Brussels 
on November 14, 1963.
    This Treaty will make a significant contribution to international 
cooperation in law enforcement. 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,
June 9, 1995.