[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 29 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[Pages 1208-1209]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Belize-United States Treaty on 
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

July 15, 2002

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 Belize on Mutual 
Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Belize on September 19, 
2000, and a related exchange of notes signed at Belize on September 18 
and 22, 2000. I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the 
report of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty.

[[Page 1209]]

    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, money laundering, and terrorism 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 
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 immobilization and forfeiture of assets, 
restitution to the victims of crime and collection of fines; and any 
other form of assistance not prohibited by the laws of the State from 
whom the assistance is requested.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 July 15, 2002.