Brazil and Switzerland Discuss International Cooperation

On October 12, 2002, a Brazilian delegation headed by the National Secretary of Justice traveled to Switzerland in order to meet representatives of the Federal Department of Justice and other federal agencies. The main subjects of the meeting were the mutual leagal assistance regarding several pending requests and the preparation of a bilateral cooperation convention for assistance in criminal matters. The signature of a convention may facilitate the cooperation between both countries in fighting crime. Since 2000, Switzerland has received 24 assistance requests from Brazil and has sent 23 such requests. The meeting in Berne served as an advanced course on how to present a request to Switzerland and vice-versa. The Swiss explained to the Brazilians that any and all assistance request must be made by means of a detailed description of the facts of the case, and particularly of the crimes alleged. Unless the requesting state provides such information, it becomes extremely difficult for the authorities to certify the existence of the main condition to grant the assistance, namely the dual criminality.