MLAT and Extradition treaties with Latvia - Update

UNCLAS RIGA 000310 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN KTIALG SUBJECT: MLAT and Extradition treaties with Latvia - Update REF: STATE 56255 ¶1. Summary: Though Latvia quickly ratified the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT),the Extradition Treaty remains before Parliament for a vote on ratification. Post was informed May 3 that the treaty will be considered by Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on May 11. The Extradition Treaty has gotten attention from both the far left human rights groups protesting against any extradition of Latvian nationals and from business groups who are rumored to be concerned about their own activities in the US. End Summary. Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty -------------- ¶2. Signed by Ambassador Bailey and then Minister of Justice Solvita Abolina in December 2005, the MLAT was ratified by the Latvian Parliament in early 2006. The Latvians await our action before instruments of ratification are exchanged. The Extradition Treaty -------------- ¶3. Also signed by Ambassador Bailey and Minister Abolina at the same time as the MLAT, the extradition treaty has not been ratified, though it has been through the first of two readings in the Parliament. In August of 2006, the Prime Minister assured the Ambassador that there were no issues with the treaty and that it would be ratified without exception after the Parliamentary elections (Held in October 2006). Shortly after the formation of the new government at the end of 2006, the Parliament voted to continue to consider the Extradition Treaty as is, rather than sending it back for another first reading. ¶4. The treaty has generated some political and press discussion. The extreme left claim that while there is an article allowing the sending state to reject extradition if the death penalty is not removed as a possible punishment, the Latvian government should not believe that the United States would honor such an agreement and if a Latvian were to be extradited, the US could still execute the individual. ¶5. Current Status: Post was informed on May 3 that Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee will be reviewing the document on May 11. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice have both been requested to be present in the committee for the review. Should it pass review, it will move on to the second, and final, reading in Parliament, hopefully by the end of May. ¶6. Post Activities to Date: For the past year, post has maintained close contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice on this issue. Post has worked with the department to provide the MFA and the MOJ talking points, background briefers, and case studies to aide in their presentations to the committee. Ambassador Bailey has also included the extradition treaty in her talking points with various members of the government, the parliament and other dignitaries. Waser