MLAT AND EXTRADITION PROTOCOL SIGNING JULY 20

UNCLAS VIENNA 002555

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS/ACS/EUR, EUR/AGS, L/LEI FOR KEN
PROPP, L-T FOR DAPHNE COOK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CJAN AU
SUBJECT: MLAT AND EXTRADITION PROTOCOL SIGNING JULY 20

REF (A) VIENNA 2093 AND PREVIOUS (B) COOK/ENSSLIN EMAIL
OF JULY 27, 2005


1. On July 20, the Ambassador and Austrian Justice
Minister Karin Miklautsch signed U.S.-Austrian
agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance.
(Note: Since July 23, Minister uses married name Karin
Gastinger.) The Austrian Ministry of Justice Chef de
Cabinet Michael Schoen, MOJ Protocol Chief Otto
Mueller, and MOJ Bureau Chief for Criminal Affairs,
Barbara Goeth-Flemmich, were among those attending the
signing ceremony.


2. The agreements are part of a sequence of bilateral
agreements that the United States is pursuing with all
EU Member States in order to implement twin U.S.-EU
agreements on extradition and mutual legal assistance
signed in 2003. The new U.S.-Austrian agreements
(bilateral protocols) update and supplement a 1998
bilateral extradition treaty and a 1995 bilateral
mutual legal assistance treaty. News reports from the
signing were positive, noting that the agreements would
facilitate cooperation between the U.S. and Austrian
law enforcement authorities in combating terrorism.


3. On July 28, Embassy Consular Section received the
original full powers through the Austrian Foreign
Affairs Ministry. (Note: Because full powers
authorization for the Austrian Justice Minister was not
ready for the July 20 signing ceremony the Austrian
Justice Minister had to sign ad referendum.) The
agreements, the Austrian full powers, and the unused
treaty paper will be pouched to Daphne Cook at the
Department's Treaty Office. Pouch registration number
is 3386153.

BROWN