I will vote "aye" on House Resolution 317. I will vote "aye" because I have simply lost my patience with the Romanian Government. Since the United States granted mostfavorednation status to Romania in 1975. the human rights situation in that nation and the level of Jewish emigration to Israel have declined dramatically. New barriers to free emigration have been created by the Romanian Government. Romanians wishing to emigrate must now get on a waiting list for a preapplication form. then fill out the form itself and finally. if his preapplication form is approved. he may then receive and complete the actual application form. It should therefore come as no surprise to us that Romanian emigration to Israel continues to decline. Prior to most favored nation. 4.000 Romanian Jews left for Israel. In 1978. the number had fallen to 1.200. and so far this year only 251 Romanians have been allowed to leave for Israel. Granting mostfavorednation status to Romania has obviously not had any positive effect on Romanias emigration policies. Romanias treatment of the 2.5 million member Hungarian minority has also failed to improve over the past 4 years. In fact. ample evidence has been received by the subcommittee on trade that Romania is pursuing a systematic effort to destroy the very fabric of Hungarian cultural life in Romania by eliminating Hungarian schools. classes. and other institutions.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration