Ukrainian parliament ratifies 4 judicial cooperation agreements with Jordan

AMMAN — The Ukrainian parliament has ratified four agreements with Jordan, all were signed during the official visit of Minister of Justice Bassam Talhouni to Kiev last year.

The endorsed agreements include judicial cooperation, transfer of convicts, extradition of criminals and mutual legal assistance in civil and criminal issues, the Ukrainian embassy in Amman said in a statement issued on Saturday, cited by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The agreements reflect the two countries' keenness to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance "existing and continuous" cooperation in the judicial field.

The embassy added that, in regard to the extradition of criminals, the agreement aims to prevent crime on the basis of mutual respect for both countries' sovereignty, and to enhance cooperation in combating serious crimes, including organised crime.

This extradition cooperation also seeks to ensure that “criminals do not escape justice”, underlining the two sides' keenness to strengthen their relations in the extradition field in accordance with their constitutional principles while observing human rights, noted the embassy.

The embassy said that the deal encourages "effective" cooperation in the transfer of persons sentenced to imprisonment to facilitate their rehabilitation and social integration, and help convicts to spend jail terms within their social environment.

As for the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the embassy said that the deal aims to prevent and combat crime, protect the rights and interests of the two countries' citizens, provide the "largest amount" of legal aid as stipulated by their respective national laws and develop cooperation relations.

The embassy also described the aforementioned agreement as "vital", represented by providing legal aid in civil matters, in accordance with each country's national laws, on the basis of the principles of national sovereignty and justice.