Department of Justice

CANADA SIGNS MUTUAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE TREATY
WITH THE CZECH REPUBLIC

OTTAWA, November 3, 1997 - The Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Canada, Anne McLellan, today signed a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on criminal matters with the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic's Minister of Justice, Vlasta Parkanova, was present for the signing. The treaty provides the legal basis for authorities in one country to locate and gather evidence for criminal investigations at the request of authorities from the other.

"This signing is yet another step in helping us to create an international network of mutual legal assistance," said Minister McLellan. " I would like to thank Minister Parkanova and the government of the Czech Republic for taking this step with us."

This is the second such treaty Canada has recently signed with another state. In early September, Canada signed a mutual legal assistance treaty with Trinidad and Tobago. Canada currently has 16 of these treaties in effect, including those with the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and France.

Canada currently has an active legal co-operation program with the Czech Republic. Experts from both countries co-operate in many areas, including anti-drug strategy, juvenile justice, legal aid and prison administration.

Ref.:   William Corbett          Irène Arseneau
        Department of Justice    Media Relations
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