Treaty on Extradition to come into force between Latvia and the U.S.

On 15 April, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, Bruce Rogers, will sign a protocol to exchange ratification instruments regarding the Treaty on Extradition between the Republic of Latvia and the United States of America.

This formal protocol signing is the conclusion of a series of internal procedures that have been carried out so that the 7 December, 2005 Treaty on Extradition between Latvia and the U.S. can come into force, and which envisages a clearer sequence of events in the extradition of persons in the event that they have committed an offence under the laws of either country. The new treaty also clearly defines conditions which may not be used as a reason for declining any extradition, for example, a person's citizenship is not a sufficient defence against extradition. The treaty also defines those conditions under which a country may decline a request for extradition. The treaty identifies clearly those crimes for which extradition is allowed.

With the coming into force of this new Treaty on Extradition between the Republic of Latvia and the United States of America, the earlier treaties on extradition of 16 October, 1923 and the additional treaty of 10 October, 1934 lose their validity.

The Treaty on Extradition between Latvia and the U.S. has been signed, on the basis of the 2003 Treaty on Extradition between the European Union and the United States of America.

Following the Treaty ratification instrument exchange ceremony, the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Latvia, Bruce Rogers, will deliver a Note to the Latvian side, in confirmation that the U.S. has completed all necessary internal procedures so that the protocol signed on 7 December 2005 on mutual legal assistance in criminal cases may come into force. The Saeima of the Republic of Latvia ratified this protocol on 8 June, 2006.  The above-mentioned protocol shall come into force on the same date that the mutual legal assistance agreement between the European Union and the United States of America shall come into force.

For the Media
From 11.15 – 11.30 a.m. the protocol signing ceremony between the government of the Republic of Latvia and the government of the United States of America on the exchange of ratification instruments with regard to the Treaty on Extradition will take place in Room 309 of the Foreign Ministry Building.  Photo/Video/Media opportunity

Media are requested to register their participation by 11 a.m. with the Foreign Ministry Press Centre by telephoning  67016 272

(end of text)