[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 40 (Monday, October 9, 2006)]
[Pages 1711-1712]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

September 29, 2006

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 Government of Malta, signed on May 18, 
2006, at Valletta, that includes an exchange of letters that is an 
integral part of the treaty. I also transmit, for the information of the 
Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the 
treaty.
    The new extradition treaty with Malta would replace the outdated 
extradition treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed 
on December 22, 1931, at London, and made applicable to Malta on June 
24, 1935. The treaty also fulfills the requirement for a bilateral 
instrument between the United States and each European Union (EU) Member 
State in order to implement the Extradition Agreement between the United 
States and the EU. Two other comprehensive new extradition treaties with 
EU Member States--Estonia and Latvia--likewise also serve as the 
requisite bilateral instruments pursuant to the U.S.-EU Agreement, and 
therefore also are being submitted separately and individually.

[[Page 1712]]

    The treaty follows generally the form and content of other 
extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. It would 
replace an outmoded list of extraditable offenses with a modern ``dual 
criminality'' approach, which would enable extradition for such offenses 
as money laundering and other newer offenses not appearing on the list. 
The treaty also contains a modernized ``political offense'' clause. It 
further provides that extradition shall not be refused based on the 
nationality of a person sought for any of a comprehensive list of 
serious offenses; in the past, Malta has declined to extradite its 
nationals to the United States. Finally, the new treaty incorporates a 
series of procedural improvements to streamline and speed the 
extradition process.
    I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration 
to the treaty.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 September 29, 2006.

Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
October 2.