FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     AG
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 1997                           (202) 616-2765
                                                TDD (202) 514-1888

RENO SIGNS NEW TREATY WITH AUSTRIAN COUNTERPART TO FIGHT MODERN CRIMES

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno signed a new bilateral extradition treaty today with Dr. Nikolaus Michalek, Austria's Minister of Justice. The new document replaces a treaty that did not account for crimes commonly committed today.

"This new treaty will allow us to punish criminals who commit modern-day offenses and flee the country," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "It will help in our international efforts to fight drug trafficking and money laundering."

The new treaty replaces one that entered into force on September 11, 1930 and was supplemented on September 5, 1934. Known as a "list treaty," it only covered crimes listed in the treaty.

The primary requirement in the new treaty is that the alleged behavior be an offense in both countries.

Both countries have to ratify the treaty before it can go into effect.

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98-003