Greece Ratifies Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty with the U.S.

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Monday, January 1, 2001
Author: 
Polys Tsidiris
Volume: 
17
Issue: 
1
26
Abstract: 
Greece has recently ratified a bilateral ‘Treaty for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between US and Greece’ (signed by both parties in Washington, on the 26th of May, 1999). Attaining a somewhat balanced agreement, between old and new trends in the field of international judicial cooperation, the traditional ‘double criminality’ premise is absent from this new treaty, whereas the equally traditional ‘political offence exception’ is upheld. The fields and procedures covered, include assistance in (a) the examination of witnesses, (b) the exchange of files, documents and other objects, (c) the tracking down of suspects and the identification of persons and objects, (d) deliveries of writs and legal documents, (e) the temporary transfer of persons held in custody for purposes of investigation or other needs, (f) investigations and seizures, (g) the seizure and confiscation of property, restitution and the collection of fines and finally, (h) any other form of assistance, not explicitly prohibited by the legislation of the requested state…[more]