PORTUGAL STALLED ON EXTRADITION AND MLAT AGREEMENTS

UNCLAS LISBON 001210 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN KTIA PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL STALLED ON EXTRADITION AND MLAT AGREEMENTS REF: STATE 56255 ¶1. (U) Portuguese interlocutors told us that the Agreements on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance have long since cleared administrative review and have been submitted to the National Assembly for formal ratification. The National Assembly has not yet scheduled a date to open debate on the issue. ¶2. (SBU) Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice contacts told us that they finished review of the subject agreements years ago. The legislature, they noted, has not yet taken any action and has not scheduled any date to do so. Each of the interlocutors continued that they have received no requests from the National Assembly for analysis on any particular point, although the use of life sentences in certain U.S. jurisdictions caused concern to some analysts and legislators. (Note: Capital punishment was not an issue as it had already been addressed during original negotiations with the European Union. End note.) Hoffman