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“REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S6730 on June 19, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on June 19, 1998, by the President of the United States:
Treaty With Estonia on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
(Treaty Document No. 105-52).
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. WARNER. I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time, that it be referred with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed, and that the President's message be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The message of the President is as follows:
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 Republic of Estonia on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, signed at Washington on April 2, 1998. 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 activity more effectively. The Treaty should be an effective tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of crimes, including ``white-collar'' crime and 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 the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records, and articles of evidence; locating or identifying persons or items; 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, and collection of fines; and rendering 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, June 19, 1998.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, that concludes the matters on behalf of the distinguished majority leader and the Democratic leader. Therefore, the Chair, I am sure, will soon recognize the distinguished Senator from North Dakota for purposes of a presentation to the Senate for a period not to exceed 15 minutes.
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