Mr. Speaker. some individuals have been alleging that the JacksonVanik amendment would diminish detente and impair our relations with the Soviet Union. As much as all of us want detente. it is overwhelmingly clear that the vast majority of the Members of Congress want that detente only on the condition that the Soviet Union make available to its citizens that most basic of all rightsthe right to emigrate and go to the nation of ones choice. I am happy to say also at this time. Mr. Speaker. that the Soviet Union within the past few days has assured me that I will be able to obtain a visa to visit Russia when such a visit may be arranged. This is a reversal of a position of the Soviet Government which on two previous occasions had denied to me the right to travel to Russia as a representative of the National Interreligious Consultation on Soviet Jewry. I look forward therefore to visit the Soviet Union and. in particular. to bring the greetings of the Congress and the people of the United States to the Jewish communities in Kiev.
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emigrate visa