Speech #930342352

I believe that any consideration of assistance could only be interpreted as a tacit acceptance of such repressive and discriminatory policies. Clearly some meaningful commitment must be secured from the A1Assad government that it will cease its illconceived reign of terror against Syrian Jews before 1 penny of aid under the special requirements fund will be made available. The legislation before us contains languagethanks to the efforts of my colleague from New York . which expresses the sense of Congress that no funds authorized by this measure should be provided to any country which denies its citizens the right or opportunity to emigrate. There can be no question that this language was accepted and incorporated into the foreign aid authorization because of the situation in Syria. Syrian Jews are virtual hostages in their own land and are unable to travel more than two and a half miles from their own homes without special permits. which are rarely granted. Inasmuch as the emigration of Jews from Syria is strictly forbidden. the current government there must drastically alter its policies in order to receive consideration for assistance. To do otherwise would make a mockery of this Nations most respected principles and those international agreements which seek to guarantee basic rights and human dignity. As the report accompanying H.R. 17234 indicates. the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights could be used as a standard in evaluating the emigration policies of a Middle Eastern nation. It would be against this benchmark that Syrias policies would be judged in order to even receive consideration as an aid recipient under the special requirements fund. If such a specific requirement is not met and an attempt is made to secure aid for Syria. the Congress should not hesitate to fully exercise the concurrent resolution veto process under section 903(b) of the bill. There is no way in good conscience we could permit assistance to be furnished to Syria without first seeing substantive changes in that nations emigration policies and the removal of restrictions against the Jewish community. In view of the fact that Syria has a policy under which emigration is strictly forbidden. I would like to ask my colleague. the gentleman from New York