U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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29–118

" ! SENATE

104TH CONGRESS

1st Session

TREATY DOC.

1995

104–22

EXTRADITION TREATY WITH BOLIVIA

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

THE EXTRADITION TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE

REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA, SIGNED AT LA PAZ ON JUNE 27, 1995

OCTOBER 10, 1995.—Treaty was read the first time and, together with

the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE, October 10, 1995.

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 Bolivia, signed at La Paz on June 27, 1995.

I transmit also, for the information of the Senate, the report of

the Department of State with respect to the Treaty, and copies of

diplomatic notes dated June 27, 1995, which were exchanged at the

time of signing of the Treaty. Those notes set forth the expectations

of the two Governments regarding the types of assistance each

Government would provide to the other in extradition proceedings,

pursuant to Article XVI of the Treaty.

The Treaty establishes the conditions and procedures for extradition between the United States and Bolivia. It also provides a

legal basis for temporarily surrendering prisoners to stand trial for

crimes against the laws of the Requesting State.

The Treaty represents an important step in combatting narcotics

trafficking and terrorism, by providing for the mandatory extradition of nationals of the Requested State in a broad range of serious criminal offenses.

The provisions in this Treaty are substantively similar to those

of other extradition treaties recently concluded by the United

States.

This Treaty will make a significant contribution to international

cooperation in law enforcement. I recommend that the Senate give

early and favorable consideration to the Treaty and give its advice

and consent to ratification.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 22, 1995.

The PRESIDENT,

The White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you the Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the

Government of the Republic of Bolivia on Extradition (the ‘‘Treaty’’), signed at La Paz on June 27, 1995. I recommend that the

Treaty be transmitted to the Senate for its advice and consent to

ratification.

Also enclosed, for the information of the Senate, are copies of diplomatic notes, dated June 27, 1995, which were exchanged by the

Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Bolivia at the time the Treaty was signed. The notes set

forth the Governments’ expectations regarding the types of assistance each Government would provide to the other, pursuant to Article XVI of the Treaty, in extradition proceedings.

The Treaty is substantively similar to other extradition treaties

recently concluded by the United States. It represents a concerted

effort by the Department of State and the Department of Justice

to modernize the legal tools available for the extradition of serious

offenders such as narcotics traffickers and terrorists. The Treaty

will supersede the Treaty of Extradition currently in force between

the United States and Bolivia, signed at La Paz April 21, 1900.

Article I obligates each Party to extradite to the other, pursuant

to the provisions of the Treaty, any person charged with, found

guilty of, or sentenced for an offense described in Article II.

In Article II, the Parties agree that an offense shall be extraditable if it is punishable under the laws of both parties by deprivation of liberty for a maximum period of more than one year or

by a more severe penalty. The Article also provides that attempts

or conspiracies to commit such offenses, or participation or association in their commission, are also extraditable offenses. Inclusion

of a dual-criminality clause without a list of specific offenses covered by the Treaty (such as was included in older extradition treaties), obviates the need to renegotiate or supplement the Treaty as

offenses become punishable under the laws of both parties.

Among other things, Article II further provides that in determining whether an offense is covered under the Treaty, it shall be irrelevant whether or not the laws in the Contracting Parties place

the offenses within the same category of offenses, contain the same

elements, or describe the offense by the same terminology, as long

as the underlying conduct is criminal in both States. With regard
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to offenses committed outside the territory of the Requesting State,

the Article specifies that an offense covered under the Treaty shall

be an extraditable one regardless of where the act or acts constituting the offense were committed.

Article II also provides that, if extradition has been granted for

an extraditable offense, it shall likewise be granted for any other

offense specified in the extradition request, even if the latter is

punishable by one year or less of deprivation of liberty, provided

that all other requirements for extradition are met.

Article III grants discretion to each Party to deny extradition of

its own nationals, except with respect to certain specified offenses

as to which extradition is mandatory irrespective of nationality.

Such offenses include those with respect to which there is an obligation to establish criminal jurisdiction pursuant to multilateral

international treaties in force with respect to the Parties, including

the United Nations Convention Against the Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, done at Vienna on December 20, 1988, and certain international conventions against terrorism.

Article III also renders mandatory the extradition of nationals for

certain specified offenses, including, inter alia, murder, kidnapping,

rape, drug- and terrorism-related offenses, and organized criminal

activity. This provision also contains a catch-all for offenses punishable in both States by deprivation of liberty for a maximum period

of at least ten years. Finally, extradition of nationals is mandatory

for an attempt or conspiracy to commit, participation in, or association regarding the commission of any of the offenses described in

the Article.

Article IV sets forth bases for the discretionary denial of extra- dition. Article IV(1) provides that, when an offense for which extradition is sought is punishable by death under the laws of the Requesting State and is not so punishable under the laws of the Requested State, the Executive Authority of the Requested State may

refuse extradition, unless the Requesting State provides assurances

that the death penalty will not be imposed or, if imposed, will not

be carried out. Article IV(2) allows the Parties to deny extradition

for offenses under military law which are not offenses under ordinary criminal law.

Article V describes the bases for the non-discretionary denial of

extradition. Article V(1) states that extradition shall not be granted

for political offenses. However, the provision expressly excludes

from the reach of this exception several categories of offenses:

(a) a murder of other willful crime against the person of a

Head of State of one of the Contracting States, or of a member

of the Head of State’s family;

(b) an offense for which both Parties are obliged pursuant to

a multilateral international treaty to establish criminal jurisdiction (e.g., aircraft hijacking pursuant to The Hague Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft, done

at The Hague December 16, 1970, and entered into force October 14, 1971 (22 U.S.T. 1641; T.I.A.S. No. 7192); aircraft sabotage pursuant to the Montreal Convention for the Suppression

of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation, done at

Montreal September 23, 1971, and entered into force January
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26, 1973 (24 U.S.T. 564; T.I.A.S. No. 7570); narcotics trafficking under the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic

in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, done at Vienna December 20, 1988, and entered into force November 11,

1990; and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, done at

New York on March 30, 1961, and entered into force December

13, 1964 (18 U.S.T. 1407; T.I.A.S No. 6298); and

(c) a conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the offenses described above, or aiding or abetting a person who commits or

attempts to commit those offenses.

Article V(2) bars extradition when the person sought has been

convicted or acquitted in the Requested State for the same offense,

but does not bar extradition if the competent authorities in the Requested State have declined to prosecute or have decided to discontinue criminal proceedings previously initiated against the person sought for that offense.

Articles VI and VII address the procedures by which extradition

is to be accomplished. Article VI describes the documents that are

required to support a request for extradition. Article VII establishes the procedures under which documents submitted pursuant

to Article VI shall be received and admitted into evidence in the

Requested State. Article VII also provides that all documents submitted by the Requesting State shall be translated into the language of the Requested State, at the expense of the Requesting

State.

Article VIII provides for the provisional arrest and detention of

the person sought for no more than sixty days pending receipt by

the Requested State of a fully documented extradition request in

conformity with Article VI. The Article explicitly states that the release of the person sought upon expiration of the sixty-day period

does not prejudice subsequent rearrest and extradition upon later

delivery of the extradition request and supporting documents.

Article IX specifies the procedures to govern the surrender and

return of fugitives. The Requested State is requested to notify

promptly the Requesting State of its decision on extradition and,

if the request is denied in whole or in part, to provide an explanation for its denial. If the request is granted, and surrender is authorized, the person sought must be removed from the territory of

the Requested State within the time prescribed by the laws or regulations (if any) of the Requested State.

Article X sets forth criteria for decision by the Parties in cases

where multiple States request the extradition of the same person.

Article XI provides that is a person is being prosecuted or is serving a sentence in the Requested State, that State may (a) temporarily surrender the person to the Requesting State solely for the

purpose of prosecution, or (b) defer surrender until the proceedings

are concluded or the sentence is served.

Article XII sets forth the rule of speciality for this treaty. It provides, subject to specific exceptions, that a person extradited under

the Treaty may not be detained, tried, convicted, or punished for

an offense other than that for which extradition has been granted.

Similarly, the Requesting State may not surrender or transfer such

person to a third State for an offense committed prior to the person’s surrender under this Treaty. The Article articulates several
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exceptions to this rule: if the surrendering State consents; if the

person extradited fails to leave the Requesting State within thirty

days of being free to do so; or if, having left the Requesting State,

the extradited person voluntarily returns to it. Article XIII permits surrender of the person sought without fur- ther proceedings if that person gives his or her consent. Article XIV provides that, to the extent permitted under its law,

and with due respect to the rights of third parties, the Requested

State may seige and surrender to the Requesting State property related to the offense for which extradition is requested. Article XV governs the transit through a Party’s territory of a person being surrendered to the other Party by a third State. Article XVI contains provisions on representation, consultation,

and expenses. Specifically, the competent authorities of the Requested State are required, by all legal means within their power,

to advise, assist and represent the interests of the Requesting State

in connection with the processing of extradition cases in the Requested State. Further, the parties agree, pursuant to this Article,

to consult with each other to maintain and improve the procedures

for implementation of the Treaty. The Requesting State shall bear

the expenses related to the translation of documents and the transportation of the person surrendered. The Article also specifies that

neither State shall make any pecuniary claim against the other

State arising out of the arrest, detention, custody, examination, or

surrender of a person sought under the Treaty. At the time the

Treaty was signed, the Governments of the United States and the

Republic of Bolivia exchanged diplomatic notes setting forth their

expectations regarding the types of assistance each Government

would provide to the other in extradition proceedings. A copy of

those notes is provided to the Senate for its information. Article XVII, like analogous provisions in almost all recent Unit- ed States extradition treaties, states that the Treaty is retroactive,

in that it shall apply to offenses committed before as well as after

the date the Treaty enters into force. In addition, the Treaty will

apply to cases still pending at the time of its entry into force. Article XVIII contains final clauses dealing with the Treaty’s ratification, entry into force and termination. Paragraph 1 states

that the Treaty shall be subject to ratification; that the instruments of ratification shall be exchanged as soon as possible; and

that the Treaty shall enter into force upon the exchange of instruments of ratification. Paragraph 2 provides that upon entry into

force of the Treaty, the Treaty of Extradition done at La Paz on

April 21, 1900, shall cease to have effect. Paragraph 3 provides

that either Party may terminate the Treaty at any time by giving

written notice to the other Party, which termination shall be effective six months after the date of notice.

A Technical Analysis explaining in detail the provisions of the

Treaty is being prepared by the United States negotiating delegation and will be submitted separately to the Senate Committee on

Foreign Relations. The Department of Justice joins the Department of State in favoring approval of this Treaty by the Senate at an early date. Respectfully submitted.

WARREN CHRISTOPHER.

Enclosure: Diplomatic notes dated June 27, 1995.
IX

EMBASSY OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, June 27, 1995.

His Excellency Dr. ANTONIO ARANI ́BAR QUIROGA,

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship, La Paz.

EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to refer to the meetings between

delegations representing the Government of the Republic of Bolivia

and the Government of the United States, held at La Paz on May

22–24, 1995, to discuss a new bilateral extradition treaty. At those

meetings, the delegations discussed the issue of mutual representation in extradition matters, and agreed that each country would

provide to the other the greatest degree of representation and legal

advice (at no cost to the other as would be permitted under its Constitution and laws.

Specifically, the United States delegation indicated at those

meetings that, at a minimum, the United States would be able to

provide the following services to the Government of Bolivia in connection with extradition requests: the United States Department of

State will accept extradition requests from the Government of Bolivia, and review such requests for compliance with the extradition

treaty. The Department of Justice will review each request and

supporting documentation for compliance with U.S. evidentiary and

other legal requirements. Pursuant to such review, the United

States agencies will advise and counsel Bolivia on the strengths

and weaknesses of each request, and the need for revisions in the

request or for supplementary documentation. The Department of

State will prepare a declaration that offense are extraditable and

that documents were properly certified or authenticated for admission into evidence.

Further, the Department of Justice will submit the extradition

file to the appropriate United States Attorney’s Office in the jurisdiction where the person sought is located, and will arrange for the

arrest of the fugitive by filing a complaint for the issuance of an

arrest warrant. The United States Attorney’s Office will present

the request to the appropriate U.S. District Court. United States

legal counsel will actively advocate Bolivia’s interests in all extradition proceedings in U.S. courts, including pre-hearing and posthearing matters connected therewith. Such representation will include the filing of appropriate government motions, memoranda,

and briefs in support of extradition; responding to defense motions

and arguments; and presenting oral arguments in court. In addition, the United States undertakes to provide representation for

Bolivia in opposing petitions for writs of habeas corpus and related

appeals. Throughout the process, United States agencies will follow

the progress of each extradition matter, and will keep the Government of Bolivia informed as appropriate or as requested.

At the May 22–24 meetings, the Government of Bolivia delegation indicated that the Government of Bolivia would, at a minimum, be able to provide the following services to the United States

in connection with extradition requests: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Bolivia (‘‘the Ministry’’) will receive all U.S.

requests for extradition; make, through the competent authorities,

the necessary arrangements for the arrest of the person sought;
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and, for the purpose of assessing compliance with Bolivian evidentiary and other legal requirements, conduct a substantive review of documents submitted with the extradition request. The

Ministry will advise the United States on the need for revision or

supplementation of documents; properly organize the documents

and dossier of the extradition request for presentation to the Supreme Court; and present such request and documents to the Supreme Court.

In addition, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry will submit to the Supreme Court a written opinion or declaration regarding whether the offenses named in the request are

extraditable, whether the request and supporting documentation

were properly certified or authenticated for admission into evidence, and whether extradition would be appropriate under the

terms of the extradition treaty. Finally, the Ministry will follow up

and report on the progress of extradition cases, and advise the

United States on the need to hire private counsel in instances

where exceptional advocacy is deemed necessary.

The Government of the United States is pleased to express its

understanding of the views expressed by the two governments’ delegations at the May 22–24, 1995 meetings, and looks forward to receiving from the Government of Bolivia confirmation of this understanding.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest and

most distinguished consideration.

CURT W. KAMMAN,

Ambassador.

REPU ́ BLICA DE BOLIVIA,

MINISTERIO DE RELACIONES EXTERIORES Y CULTO,

June 27, 1995.

EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of Your

Excellency’s Note N: 220 dated today, which reads as follows:

EXCELLENCY: I have the honor to refer to the meetings

between delegations representing the Government of the

Republic of Bolivia and the Government of the United

States, held at La Paz on May 22–24, 1995, to discuss a

new bilateral extradition treaty. At those meetings, the

delegations discussed the issue of mutual representation in

extradition matters, and agreed that each country would

provide to the other the greatest degree of representation

and legal advice (at no cost to the other) as would be permitted under its Constitution and laws.

Specifically, the United States delegation indicated at

those meetings that, at a minimum, the United States

would be able to provide the following services to the Government of Bolivia in connection with extradition request:

the United States Department of State will accept extradition requests from the Government of Bolivia, and review such request for compliance with the extradition treaty. The Department of Justice will review each request and

supporting documentation for compliance with U.S. evi-
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dentiary and other legal requirements. Pursuant to such

review, the United States agencies will advise and counsel

Bolivia on the strengths and weaknesses of each request,

and the need for revisions in the request or for supplementary documentation. The Department of State will prepare a declaration that offenses are extraditable and that

documents were properly certified or authenticated for admission into evidence.

Further, the Department of Justice will submit the extradition file to the appropriate United States Attorney’s

Office in the jurisdiction where the person sought is located, and will arrange for the arrest of the fugitive by filing a complaint for the issuance of an arrest warrant. The

United States Attorney’s Office will present the request to

appropriate U.S. District Court. United States legal counsel will actively advocate Bolivia’s interests in all extradition proceedings in U.S. courts, including prehearing and

post-hearing matters connected therewith. Such representation will include the filing of appropriate government

motions, memoranda, and briefs in support of extradition;

responding to defense motions and arguments; and presenting oral arguments in court. In addition, the United

States undertakes to provide representation for Bolivia in

opposing petitions for writs of habeas corpus and related

appeals. Throughout the process, United States agencies

will follow the progress of each extradition matter, and

will keep the Government of Bolivia informed as appropriate or as requested.

At the May 22–24 meetings, the Government of Bolivia delegation indicated that the Government of Bolivia would, at a minimum, be able to provide the following services to the United States

in connection with extradition requests: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Bolivia (‘‘the Ministry’’) will receive all U.S.

requests for extradition; make, through the competent authorities,

the necessary arrangements for the arrest of the person sought;

and, for the purpose of assessing compliance with Bolivian evidentiary and other legal requirements, conduct a substantive review of documents submitted with the extradition request. The

Ministry will advise the United States on the need for revision or

supplementation of documents; properly organize the documents

and dossier of the extradition request for presentation to the Supreme Court; and present such request and documents to the Supreme Court.

In addition, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry will submit to the Supreme Court a written opinion or declaration regarding whether the offenses named in the request are

extraditable, whether the request and supporting documentation

were properly certified or authenticated for admission into evidence, and whether extradition would be appropriate under the

terms of the extradition treaty. Finally, the Ministry will follow up

and report on the progress of extradition cases, and advise the

United States on the need to hire private counsel in instances

where exceptional advocacy is deemed necessary.
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The Government of the United States is pleased to express its

understanding of the views expressed by the two governments’ delegations at the May 22–24, 1995 meetings, and looks forward to receiving from the Government of Bolivia confirmation of this understanding.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurance of my highest and

most distinguished consideration.

CURT W. KAMMAN, Ambassador.

In this regard, I have the honor to confirm to Your Excellency

the concurrence of the Government of the Republic of Bolivia in the

understanding contained in the preceding note.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the

assurance of my highest consideration.

DR. ANTONIO ARANI ́BAR QUIROGA,

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship.
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