Speech #930162443

I rise in support of the Vanik amendment to the bill H.R. 10710. the Trade Reform Act. While I am in total disagreement with the trade provisions of this bill. and with the tactics employed to hold this amendment hostage to insure the bills passage. if it does pass. we will at least be able to demonstrate to the Soviet Union that their continued flagrant disregard of human rights will not continue to be tolerated by the United States. As this bill is presently written. our only response to the Soviet Unions archaic and inhumane emigration policies would be to deprive them of mostfavorednation status in international trade. This action might serve to inconvenience the Soviet Union more than it would actually harm them economically. However. by adopting the Vanik amendment we would be adding the important provision of prohibiting trade credits and credit guarantees to the Soviets until they abandon their emigration policies. The threat alone which the Vanik amendment contains may ultimately prove to be more effective than its application in reality. but the overall fact remains that this amendment will surely hit a lot closer to home economically in the Soviet Union. There are many of my colleagues who argue that the United States should not be interfering in the internal affairs of another country. However. we are dealing with a basic and universal human right which is explicitly provided in the U.N. Charter. with the U.S.S.R. as a signatory. indicating compliance with this provision. namely freedom of emigration. Yet for Jews and other minorities living in the Soviet Union this right has been ruthlessly disregarded. If a country wishes to participate fully in the community of nations. it must meet minimum requirements in its dealings with its citizens. One of the most basic requirements is the permitting of free emigration for those who desire it. For years. the Jewish citizens of the Soviet Union have not only been deprived of this fundamental human right. but have also been subject to persecution and inhumane treatment by the Soviet Union. Do we condone these type actions by the Soviet Union by granting them major trade concessions? I say emphatically no. Yet the Vanik amendment deserves passage for reasons beyond those pertaining to Soviet emigration policies..Recent examples are the actions of the Soviet Union in the Middle East which have proven that d6tente is a policy which is far from being realized. Soviet actions resulted in a nearconfrontation between the two superpowers. not seen since the Cuban crisis of 1962. Further. the Soviet Union was instrumental in encouraging the Arab oil embargo which has plunged this Nation into its most serious energy crisis in history.