GERMANY. USA AND GERMANY AGREE TO SIMPLIFY EXTRADITION PROCESS

the United States and Germany signed an accord on Tuesday aimed at speeding up extraditions, though Berlin will continue to reject requests for individuals who could be put to death, Germany's Justice Ministry said.
"The addendum to the extradition agreement simplifies what has been until now a complex and time-consuming process of certifying and transmitting extradition documentation," the ministry said in a statement.
But the amendment is unlikely to remove all friction between Washington and Berlin regarding criminal extraditions. The amendment does not alter the fact that under the 1978 U.S.-German extradition treaty persons who could face the death penalty in the United States cannot be sent there from Germany.
"There will be no extradition if the person sought for extradition could face a death sentence," the ministry said.
The amendment was signed in Washington by German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries and her counterpart, US Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, the ministry said.