ACCESSION
NUMBER:362380
FILE ID:TXT310
DATE:09/28/94
TITLE:U.S., RUSSIA ENTER INTO MUTUAL CUSTOMS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT (09/28/94)
TEXT:*94092810.TXT
U.S., RUSSIA ENTER INTO MUTUAL CUSTOMS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT
(Text: White House press release) (330)
(The following press release on signature by the United States and the
Russian Federation of a mutual customs assistance agreement was issued by
the White House September 28, 1994.)
(begin text)
Washington -- Secretary of the Treasury Lloyd Bentsen and Antoly S. Kruglov,
chairman of the State Customs Committee of the Russian Federation, today
will sign a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) that will assist the
two countries in prevention, investigation, and repression of Customs
offenses.
Occurring during the presidential signing ceremony taking place in the East
Room of the White House at 3:30 p.m., and witnessed by Presidents Clinton
and Yeltsin, the agreement provides a basis for cooperation and
investigation in the areas of commercial fraud, narcotics smuggling, and
export control, and will be mutually beneficial to the Customs
Administrations of the United States and the Russian Federation by
enhancing their abilities to enforce Customs laws.
Commenting on the agreement, U.S. Commissioner of Customs George J. Weiss
said, "The signing of this Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement begins a new
era of cooperation between the governments of the United States of America
and the Russian Federation and for our respective Customs Administrations.
International trade and criminal activity are increasing so rapidly, it is
essential for us to establish a network of agreements between Customs
agencies to share information for facilitating trade and law enforcement
purposes. Everyone wins when we establish mechanisms for mutual
cooperation to promote international trade and to thwart criminal
activity."
U.S. domestic laws, and most foreign national law, do not permit disclosure
of much information in the absence of a formal agreement or treaty. The
CMAA will allow U.S. Customs to exchange information, intelligence, and
other assistance with the Russian Federation.
U.S. Customs has signed Customs Mutual Assistance agreements with a number
of other countries. As of this date, 25 have entered into force.
(end text)
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