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

<R04>
Message to the Senate Transmitting the Sweden-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 the Kingdom of Sweden 
on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Stockholm on 
December 17, 2001. I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, 
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 
terrorism, drug trafficking, and fraud and other white-collar 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: locating 
or identifying persons or items; serving documents; taking the testimony 
or statements of persons; transferring persons in custody for testimony 
or other purposes; providing documents, records, and items; executing 
requests for searches and seizures; assisting in proceedings related to 
immobilization and forfeiture of assets and restitution; initiating 
criminal proceedings in the Requested State; and any other form of 
assistance consistent with the purposes of this Treaty and 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.