FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Embassy
Thursday, September 19, 2002

Under Secretary of State Grossman and Cypriot FM Kasoulides Sign MLAT Protocol in New York

The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman and Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides signed Wednesday a protocol for the implementation of the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters (MLAT) between the United Stated and Cyprus.  The signing took place September 18 during a ceremony in New York.  The treaty entered into force upon yesterday’s signing.

U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus Michael Klosson welcomed the signing and described the entering into force of the MLAT as “a significant step in deterring international terrorists and criminals from using Cyprus as a haven for their activities.  The criminals have globalized their enterprises.  With this treaty, our two governments are demonstrating their determination to globalize enforcement.  With the MLAT in place, and with the complementary US/Cyprus Extradition Treaty in force since 1999, we have the tools to investigate, arrest, prosecute, and/or extradite major criminals in either jurisdiction who in years past may have slipped away unscathed.” Ambassador Klosson added that the United States appreciated “the cooperation we have enjoyed with the government of Cyprus on this and other important issues.”

The MLAT treaty between the United States and Cyprus was signed on December 20, 1999 in Nicosia.  On October 18, 2000 it was ratified by the U.S. Senate and on June 13, 2002 by the Cypriot House of Representatives.