News item | 11-07-2023 | 4:30 pm
The Senate today approved two bilateral treaties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to tackle cross-border organized crime. These are a treaty on mutual legal assistance and a treaty on extradition. These come into force after publication in the Official Gazette. The bilateral treaties are part of the broader agenda of Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius of Justice and Security for more international cooperation in tackling organized subversive crime.
“Only by working more closely with other countries can we better tackle internationally operating criminals involved in matters such as money laundering, drug, arms and human trafficking. As criminals threaten our society and open economy with violence and intimidation, we must do everything make every effort to prevent them from feeling safe with their criminal assets abroad. In recent years, the UAE has already proven to be an important partner for our investigative services in criminal investigations. These treaties further strengthen the cooperation we have built up.” , said Minister Yesilgöz-Zegerius.
With the conclusion of bilateral treaties in the field of legal assistance and extradition, the options for extradition and legal assistance, including seizure, are further expanded, simplified and structured. This will enable the investigative services of both countries to respond more quickly to each other’s requests in the fight against organized crime in general, and the fight against financial and economic crime in particular. The treaties contain agreements on hearing suspects, witnesses, victims or experts, examining bank accounts and seizing goods and profits from illegal activities. Furthermore, the possibilities for cooperation in extradition cases are being expanded.
Each request for legal assistance and extradition is always assessed separately with bilateral treaties on the basis of legal and treaty frameworks. For example, requests for legal assistance and extradition will not be complied with if there are good grounds to believe that the suspect is being prosecuted because of his religion, political convictions, nationality, race or ethnic group. The Netherlands also asks for guarantees that the death penalty and corporal punishment will not be imposed or carried out if this is the case in the other country. Without such guarantees, legal assistance or extradition will not be possible.
The treaties with the UAE are an important pillar in the international agenda of the Minister of Justice and Security. Bilateral agreements with other countries, such as Morocco and Colombia, are currently being developed in the fight against organized crime. In addition, coalitions are being formed and cooperation is being strengthened in Europe, with Turkey, the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean region in tackling drug crime and criminal assets.