US-Greece Extradition Treaty and MLAT—New Protocols

The United States’ 1931 bilateral extradition treaty with Greece and their 1999 mutual legal assistance treaty have been updated, pending ratification.^[1] According to the US State Department, the agreements will “modernize the U.S.-Greek criminal law relationship,” allowing law enforcement officials in both countries “to cooperate more effectively in bringing criminals to justice and in combating international terrorism.”^[2] Unfortunately, the State Department is bereft of details, stating only that Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fred “noted that the agreements show that ‘the Greek-American friendship is strong, and we are putting it to work in the service of a better world,’” a sentiment echoed by his Greek counterpart, Ambassador Alexandros Mallias.^[3]

The Protocol to the extradition treaty will be the second protocol signed between the two nations, after the first protocol was signed in 1937.

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[1] US Dept. of State, U.S., Greece Sign Extradition, Mutual Legal Assistance Accords, Jan. 18, 2006.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.