[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 5 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Page 152]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Latvia-United States Mutual Legal 
Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty and Documentation

January 28, 1998

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 Republic of Latvia on Mutual Legal Assistance in 
Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on June 13, 1997. I transmit 
also, for the information of the Senate, an exchange of notes that was 
signed the same date as the Treaty and that provides for its provisional 
application, as well as 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 
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: taking of testimony or 
statements of persons; providing documents, records, and articles of 
evidence; serving documents; locating or identifying persons; 
transferring persons in custody for testimony or other purposes; 
executing requests for searches and seizures; assisting in proceedings 
related to restraint, confiscation, forfeiture of assets, restitution, 
and 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,
January 28, 1998.