U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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59–118

" ! SENATE 105TH CONGRESS

2d Session

TREATY DOC.

1998

105–41

TREATY WITH LITHUANIA ON MUTUAL LEGAL

ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

TREATY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF

LITHUANIA ON MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS, SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON JANUARY 16, 1998

APRIL 20, 1998.—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, April 20, 1998.

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 Lithuania on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal

Matters, signed at Washington on January 16, 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.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, March 24, 1998.

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 Lithuania on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (the ‘‘Treaty’’), signed at Washington, on

January 16, 1998. I recommend that the Treaty be transmitted to

the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification.

The Treaty covers mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

In recent years, similar bilateral treaties have entered into force

with a number of countries. This Treaty contains many provisions

similar to those in the other treaties.

The Treaty with Lithuania contains all essential provisions

sought by the United States and, indeed, resembles closely the

model U.S. text. It will enhance our ability to investigate and prosecute a variety of offenses, including white-collar crime and drugtrafficking offenses of particular interest to the U.S. law enforcement community with respect to Lithuania. The Treaty is designed

to be self-executing and will not require new legislation.

Article 1 sets forth a non-exclusive list of the major types of assistance to be provided under the Treaty, including taking the testimony or statements of persons; providing documents, records and

articles of evidence; locating or identifying persons or item; 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. The

cope of the Treaty includes not only criminal matters, which may

be civil or administrative in nature.

Article 1 states that assistance shall be provided without regard

to whether the conduct involved would constitute an offense under

the laws of the Requested State.

Article 1(4) states explicitly that the Treaty is not intended to

create rights of private parties to obtain, suppress, or exclude any

evidence, or to impede the execution of a request.

Article 2 provides for the establishment of Central Authorities

and defines Central Authorities for purposes of the Treaty. For the

United States, the Central Authority is the Attorney General or

such persons in the Department of Justice as the Attorney General

designates. For Lithuania, the Central Authority is the Office of
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the Prosecutor General and the Ministry of Justice. The Central

Authority for the Requesting State is required to use its best efforts to ensure that a request is not made where, in its view, the

offense on which the request is based does not have serious consequences, or the extent of the assistance to be requested is unreasonable in view of the sentence expected upon conviction.

The article also provides that the Central Authorities may communicate directly with one another for purposes of the Treaty.

Article 3(1) sets forth the circumstances under which a Requested State’s Central Authority may deny assistance under the

Treaty. A request may be denied if it related to a military offense

that would be an offense under ordinary criminal law. In addition,

a request may be denied if its execution would prejudice the sovereignty, security or similar essential interests of the Requested

State, or if it is not made in substantial compliance with the requirements set forth in Article 4. Further grounds for denial are

that the request relates to a political offense (a term expected to

be defined on the basis of the term’s usage in extradition treaties).

Before denying assistance, the Central Authority of the Requested State is required under Article 3(2) to consult with its

counterpart in the Requesting State to consider whether assistance

can be given subject to such conditions as the Central Authority of

the Requested State deems necessary. If the Requested State accepts assistance subject to these conditions, it is requested to comply with the conditions. If the Central Authority of the Requested

State denies assistance, it is required under Article 3(3) to inform

the Central Authority of the Requesting State of the reasons for

the denial.

Article 4 prescribes the form and content of written requests

under the Treaty, specifying in detail the information required in

each request. The article permits other forms of request in emergency situations but requires written confirmation within ten days

thereafter unless the Central Authority of the Requested State

agrees otherwise. Unless otherwise agreed, the request shall be in

the language or translated into the language of the Requested

State.

Article 5 requires the Central Authority of the Requested State

to execute the request promptly or to transmit it to the authority

having jurisdiction to do so. It provides that the competent authorities of the Requested State shall do everything in their power to

execute a request, and that the judicial or other competent authorities of the Requested State shall have authority to issue subpoenas,

search warrants, or other orders necessary to execute the request.

The Central Authority of the Requested State must represent or

make arrangements for representation of the Requesting States in

the execution of a request for assistance.

Under Article 5(3), requests are to be executed in accordance

with the laws of the Requested State except to the extent that the

Treaty provides otherwise. However, the method of execution specified in the request is to be followed except insofar as it contradicts

or is prohibited by the laws of the Requested State. If the Central

Authority of the Requested State determines that execution of the

request would interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation,

prosecution, or proceeding in that State, it may postpone execution
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or, after consulting with the Central Authority of the Requesting

State, impose conditions on execution.

If the Requesting State accepts assistance subject to conditions,

it shall comply with them.

Article 5(5) further requires the Requested State, if so requested,

to use its best efforts to keep confidential a request and its contents, and to inform the Requesting State’s Central Authority if the

request cannot be executed without breaching confidentiality. This

provides the Requesting State an opportunity to decide whether to

pursue the request or to withdraw it in order to maintain confidentiality.

Article 5 additionally requires the Requested State’s Central Authority to respond to reasonable inquiries by the Requesting State’s

Central Authority regarding the status of the execution of a request; to report promptly to the Requesting State’s Central Authority the outcome of its execution; and, if the request is delayed or

postponed, to inform the Requesting State’s Central Authority of

the reasons for the delay or postponement.

Article 6 apportions between the two States the costs incurred in

executing a request. It provides that the Requested State shall pay

all costs, except for the following items to be paid by the Requesting State: fees of experts, costs of interpretation, translation and

transcription, and the allowances and expenses related to travel of

persons either in the Requested States for the convenience of the

Requesting State or pursuant to Articles 10 and 11.

Article 7 requires the Requesting State to comply with any request by the Central Authority of the Requested State that information or evidence obtained under the Treaty not be used for any

investigation, prosecution, or proceeding other than those described

in the request without its prior consent. Further, if the Requested

State’s Central Authority asks that information or evidence furnished be kept confidential or be used in accordance with specified

conditions, and the Requesting State accepts the information subject to such conditions, the Requesting State must use its best efforts to comply with the conditions. Nothing in the article prevents

the use or disclosure of information to the extent that such information is exculpatory to a defendant in a criminal prosecution. The

Requesting State is obliged to notify the Requested State in advance of any such proposed use or disclosure. Once information is

made public in the Requesting State in accordance with either of

these provisions, no further limitations on use apply.

Article 8 provides that a person in the Requested State from

whom testimony or evidence is requested pursuant to the Treaty

shall be compelled, if necessary, to appear and testify or produce

items, including documents, records, and other articles of evidence.

The article requires the Central Authority of the Requested State,

upon request, to furnish information in advance about the date and

place of the taking of testimony or evidence pursuant to this Article.

Article 8(3) further requires the Requested State to permit the

presence of persons specified in the request and to permit them to

question the person giving the testimony or evidence. In the event

that a person whose testimony or evidence is being taken asserts

a claim of immunity, incapacity or privilege under the laws of the
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Requesting State, Article 8(4) provides that the testimony or evidence shall be taken and the claim made known to the Central Authority of the Requesting State for resolution by its authorities.

Finally, in order to ensure admissibility in evidence in the Requesting State, Article 8(5) provides a mechanism through the use

of Forms A and B appended to the Treaty for authenticating evidence that is produced pursuant to or that is the subject of testimony taken in the Requested State (or certifying its absence or

nonexistence).

Article 9 requires that the Requested State provide the Requesting State with copies of publicly available records in the possession

of executive, legislative or judicial authority in the Requested

State. The Requested State may further provide copies of records

or information in the possession of an executive, legislative or judicial authority in that State, but not publicly available, to the extent

and under the same conditions as it would provide them to its own

law enforcement or judicial authorities. The Requested State has

the discretion to deny such requests entirely or in part. Article 9

also provides that no further authentication shall be necessary for

admissibility into evidence in the Requesting State of official

records where the official in charge of maintaining them authenticates the records through the use of Form C appended to the

Treaty. In like manner, the absence or nonexistence of such records

is, upon request, to be certified by the use of Form D, which shall

be admissible in evidence in the Requesting State.

Article 10(1) provides a mechanism for the Requesting State to

invite the voluntary appearance in its territory of a person located

in the Requested State. Article 10(2) provides that the Requesting

State shall indicate the extent to which the expenses will be paid.

Article 10(3) provides that the Central Authority of the Requesting

State has discretion to determine that a person appearing in the

Requesting State pursuant to this Article shall not be subject to

service of process, or be detained or subjected to any restriction of

personal liberty by reason of any acts or convictions that preceded

the person’s departure from the Requested State. Under Article

10(4), any safe conduct provided for by this article ceases seven

days after the Central Authority of the Requesting State has notified the person appearing that their presence is no longer required,

and the person being free to leave has not left, or having left, has

voluntarily returned.

Article 11 provides for temporary transfer of a person in custody

in the Requested State to the Requesting State or a third State for

purposes of assistance under the Treaty (for example, a witness incarcerated in the Requested State may be transferred to the Requesting State or to a third State to have his deposition taken in

the presence of the defendant), provided that the person in question and the Central Authorities of both States agree. The article

also provides for voluntary transfer of a person in the custody of

the Requesting State to the Requested State for purposes of assistance under the Treaty (for example, a defendant in the Requesting

State may be transferred for purposes of attending a witness deposition in the Requested State), if the person consents and if the

Central Authorities of both States agree.
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Article 11(3) further establishes both the express authority and

the obligation of the receiving State to maintain the person transferred in custody unless otherwise agreed by both Central Authorities. The return of the person transferred is subject to terms and

conditions agreed to by the Central Authorities, and the sending

State is not required to initiate extradition proceedings for return

of the person transferred. The person transferred receives credit for

service of the sentence imposed in the sending State for time

served in the custody of the receiving State.

Article 12 requires the Requested State to use its best efforts to

ascertain the location or identity of person or items specified in a

request.

Article 13 obligates the Requested State to use its best efforts to

effect service of any document relating, in whole or in part, to any

request for assistance under the Treaty. A request for the service

of a document requiring a person to appear in the Requesting State

must be transmitted a reasonable time before the scheduled appearance. Proof of service is to be provided in the manner specified

in the request.

Article 14 obligates the Requested State to execute requests for

search, seizure, and transfer of any item to the Requesting State

if the request includes the information justifying such action under

the laws of the Requested State. It provides that, upon request by

the Central Authority of the Requesting State, every official who

has custody of a seized item is required to certify, through the use

of Form E appended to the Treaty, the continuity of custody, the

identity of the item, and the integrity of its condition. No further

certification is required. The certificate is admissible in evidence in

the Requesting State. Article 14(3) further provides that the Central Authority of the Requested State may impose upon the Requesting State terms and conditions deemed necessary to protect

third-party interests in items to be transferred.

Article 15 requires the Requesting State’s Central Authority,

upon request of its counterpart in the Requested State, to return

documents, records or other articles of evidence obtained in the

execution of a request under the Treaty as soon as possible.

Article 16(1) provides that, if the Central Authority of one Contracting Party becomes aware of proceeds or instrumentalities of offenses that are located in the other Contracting Party and may be

forfeitable or at least subject to seizure under the laws of that

Party, it may so inform the Central Authority of that other Party.

If the Party receiving such information has jurisdiction, it may

present this information to its authorities for a determination

whether any action is appropriate. The Central Authority of the

Party receiving such information is required to inform the Central

Authority of the Party that provided the information of the action

taken.

Article 16(2) also obligates the Contracting Parties to assist each

other to the extent permitted by their respective laws in proceedings relating to forfeiture of proceeds and instrumentalities of offenses, restitution to victims of crime, and collection of fines imposed as sentences in criminal prosecutions. Under Article 16(3),

the Party having custody over proceeds or instrumentalities of offenses is required to dispose of them in accordance with its laws.
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Either party may share all or part of such forfeited assets, or the

proceeds of their sale, with the other party, to the extent not prohibited by the transferring party’s laws and upon such terms as it

deems appropriate.

Article 17 states that assistance and procedures provided in the

Treaty shall not prevent either Contracting Party from granting assistance to the other Contracting Party through the provisions of

other applicable international agreements or through the provisions of its national laws. The Parties may also provide assistance

pursuant to any bilateral arrangement, agreement or practice

which may be applicable.

Article 18 provides that the Central Authorities shall consult, at

times mutually agreed, to promote the most effective use of the

Treaty, and may agree upon such practical measures as may be

necessary to facilitate the Treaty’s implementation.

Article 19 provides that the Treaty shall be subject to ratification

and the instruments shall be exchanged at Vilnius, whereupon the

Treaty shall enter into force. Article 19 further provides that either

party may terminate the Treaty by written notice to the other

party, termination to take effect six months after the date of notification.

A Technical Analysis explaining in detail the provisions of the

Treaty is being prepared by the United States negotiating delegation, consisting of representatives from the Departments of Justice

and State, and will be transmitted 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 as soon as possible.

Respectfully submitted.

STROBE TALBOT.
(1)
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