Speech #910333101

I want to commend the distinguished senior Senator from Connecticut for his comments today. and to join him in expressing deep concern over recent developments involving Soviet Jewry. In part. at least. these developments reflect the growing difficulties facing citizens of the Soviet Union who are simply trying to leave their countryusually to join close relatives overseas. For many months. there has been a growing demand among Soviet citizens for the right of free emigration. Many thousands of Jews. especially. have legally petitioned their government for exit permits. And a fewin their frustration and desperationhave tried to flee. The plight of those who are seeking to avail themselves of a right taken for granted in so many countries. has justly caused much concern in our own country and elsewhere. This is particularly true. I feel. because in past years the Soviet Government has often said that it would permit free emigration in the interest of family unity. and. in fact. each year a trickle of Soviet citizensincluding Jews--are issued the necessary documents to leave. For humanitarian reasons alone. I feel the time is long overdue to further encourage this movementespecially at this time. And for this reason. on November 24 I strongly urged the Intergovernmental Committee for European MigrationICEMin Geneva to approach the Soviet Government on this issue. and to offer its services for facilitating the free emigration of Soviet citizens to Israel and other countries. Over the last month. I and members of my staff have pursued this matter with a number of personsincluding Mr.