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[Page S345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NOS. 115-1 AND 115-2
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask
unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the
following treaties transmitted to the Senate on January 17, 2017, by
the President of the United States: Extradition Treaty with the
Republic of Serbia, Treaty Document No. 115-1; Extradition Treaty with
the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Treaty Document No. 115-2. I
further ask that the treaties be considered as having been read the
first time; that they be referred, with accompanying papers, to the
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the
President's messages be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The messages of the President are 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 Extradition Treaty between the
United States of America and the Republic of Serbia (the ``Treaty''),
signed at Belgrade on August 15, 2016. I also transmit, for the
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with
respect to the Treaty.
The Treaty would replace the Treaty between the United States of
America and the Kingdom of Servia for the Mutual Extradition of
Fugitives from Justice, signed October 25, 1901 (the ``1901 Treaty''),
which applies to the Republic of Serbia as a successor state to the
former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 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,
cyber-related crimes, and other newer offenses not appearing on the
1901 Treaty list. The Treaty also provides that extradition shall not
be refused based on the nationality of the person sought and contains a
modernized ``political offense'' clause. Finally, the Treaty
incorporates a series of procedural improvements to streamline and
expedite the extradition process.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to
the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification.
Barack Obama.
The White House, January 17, 2017.
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
Government of the United States of America and the Government of the
Republic of Kosovo (the ``Treaty''), signed at Pristina on March 29,
2016. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of
the Department of State with respect to the Treaty.
The Treaty would replace the Treaty between the United States of
America and the Kingdom of Servia for the Mutual Extradition of
Fugitives from Justice, signed October 25, 1901 (the ``1901 Treaty''),
which applies to the Republic of Kosovo as a successor state to the
former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 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,
cyber-related crimes, and other newer offenses not appearing on the
1901 Treaty list. The Treaty also provides that extradition shall not
be refused based on the nationality of the person sought and contains a
modernized ``political offense'' clause. Finally, the Treaty
incorporates a series of procedural improvements to streamline and
expedite the extradition process.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to
the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification.
Barack Obama.
The White House, January 17, 2017.
____________________