Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS2351
2007-12-13 16:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE: STATUS OF EXTRADITION AND MLAT AGREEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO1067 OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHTH #2351 3471603 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 131603Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SCSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0899 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS ATHENS 002351
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIA PREL KCRM KJUS EUN GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: STATUS OF EXTRADITION AND MLAT AGREEMENT
RATIFICATIONS
REF: SECSTATE 163864
UNCLAS ATHENS 002351
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIA PREL KCRM KJUS EUN GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: STATUS OF EXTRADITION AND MLAT AGREEMENT
RATIFICATIONS
REF: SECSTATE 163864
1. (SBU) Embassy Political section and LEGATT discussed the
status of the Greek ratification process of the 2003 U.S.-EU
Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance with
several contacts in the MFA and Ministry of Justice. Greek
legal experts were of the opinion that the agreements
themselves did not need to be ratified by the Greek
Parliament because they were instruments between the U.S. and
the European Union and not between the U.S. and individual EU
member-states.
2. (SBU) Greece did require, however, protocols on
implementation of the agreements. Greece signed the
protocols in Washington in January 2006, but they had to be
ratified by Parliament before taking effect. The protocols
were currently with the Parliamentary standing committee on
judicial affairs for review. Of particular interest to the
committee were provisions of the agreements that might
contradict certain eleents of Greek law and/or the
Constitution. Te committee was examining ways to resolve
thee potential differences.
3. (SBU) Once the standing committee finished its work, the
protocols would be returned to the Ministry of Justice and
ratifying legislation would be prepared. The Ministry would
then send this legislation to Parliament for approval. There
was no indication when this process might be completed.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIA PREL KCRM KJUS EUN GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: STATUS OF EXTRADITION AND MLAT AGREEMENT
RATIFICATIONS
REF: SECSTATE 163864
1. (SBU) Embassy Political section and LEGATT discussed the
status of the Greek ratification process of the 2003 U.S.-EU
Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance with
several contacts in the MFA and Ministry of Justice. Greek
legal experts were of the opinion that the agreements
themselves did not need to be ratified by the Greek
Parliament because they were instruments between the U.S. and
the European Union and not between the U.S. and individual EU
member-states.
2. (SBU) Greece did require, however, protocols on
implementation of the agreements. Greece signed the
protocols in Washington in January 2006, but they had to be
ratified by Parliament before taking effect. The protocols
were currently with the Parliamentary standing committee on
judicial affairs for review. Of particular interest to the
committee were provisions of the agreements that might
contradict certain eleents of Greek law and/or the
Constitution. Te committee was examining ways to resolve
thee potential differences.
3. (SBU) Once the standing committee finished its work, the
protocols would be returned to the Ministry of Justice and
ratifying legislation would be prepared. The Ministry would
then send this legislation to Parliament for approval. There
was no indication when this process might be completed.
SPECKHARD