Pact could bring Kalejs to Latvia

RIGA - More than 18 months after it was first approached by
Australia, Latvia started work on establishing an extradition treaty
between the two countries.

Once in place, the extradition treaty would allow Australia to send
alleged war criminals, such as 86-year-old Konrads Kalejs, back to
Latvia.

Kalejs, accused of killing tens of thousands of Jews during World War
II as a commanding officer in the Arajs Kommando, returned to
Australia in early January before deportation hearings could be
started against him in Britain.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, an organization which is dedicated to
tracking those suspected of crimes against humanity during World War
II, discovered Kalejs was living in England in December.

As an Australian citizen, Kalejs cannot be deported. Australia's
Citizenship Act does not allow authorities to strip someone of their
citizenship if they have lived in the country for more than 10 years.

Yet in December 1999, Australia passed the War Crimes Amendment Act,
though still untested in any court, which repealed an earlier act and
marked a change in its dealings with alleged war criminals.

"It's now no longer necessary to demonstrate a prima facie case which
should make it easier for an Australian court to extradite an alleged
war criminal," said Australian Ambassador to Latvia Stephen Brady.

After that amendment, the ambassador sent a letter to Latvian
Minister of Foreign Affairs Indulis Berzins on Jan. 10 to remind the
government of Australia's desire to establish an extradition treaty.

"Australia is calling for the early establishment of an effective,
modern, bilateral extradition arrangement between Latvia and
Australia," said Brady.

The first request from Australia was made in May 1998, but received
no response from the Latvian government.

"There were some technical problems from our side," said Janis Silis,
head of the Foreign Ministry's press office, who declined to explain
further.

Silis said Latvia actually had an extradition treaty with Australia,
dating back to 1926, which was included as part of its extradition
agreement with the United Kingdom, which was signed in 1924.

Nearly 75 years later, he acknowledged some of the legislation was
simply out of date.

"We think we need a new and modern extradition agreement which will
set a very precise arrangement with Australia," said Silis.

He declined to say when the arrangement could be signed, as Latvian
officials have only recently received materials from the Australian
government that require review.

"(Signing) agreements is quite a long process, you know," said Silis.
"We will do the best from our side to make sure an agreement with
Australia is signed."