[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 36 (Monday, September 9, 2002)]
[Pages 1511-1512]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

September 5, 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 Principality of Liechtenstein on 
Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Vaduz on July 8, 
2002. 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,
September 5, 2002.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
September 6. An original was not available for verification of the 
content of this message.

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