Speech #960093894

If the United States grants the waiver authority without considering some of these violent acts by the Romanian Government against their own people. then I seriously question this administrations pledge to improve human rights around the world. In testimony before the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade. Congressman SCHULZE brought out all of the obstacles placed in the way of persons wishing to emigrate. and the fact that since MFN status has been granted to Romania. the number of people being allowed to emigrate has actually declined. This administration and the State Department have always claimed that if the United States grants MFN status to Romania. or any Communist country. we will have greater leverage on their emigration policies. However. Romania has shown no sign of improving their policies. and the administration continues to extend MFN status rather than pressing the Romanian authorities to provide a freer emigration system. There is one particular case that I know many distinguished members of the Trade Subcommittee and many Senators interested in human rights have worked on since 1973. I refer to Mr. Constantin Rauta. an electrical engineer who came to the United States in 1973 as part of an official party to prepare for President Ceausescus visit to this country. As soon as Mr. Rauta arrived in this country. he requested asylum and immediately applied for passports and exit visas for his wife Ecaterina and son Mihai. As could be expected. the Romanian Government was extremely upset with Mr. Rautas actions. but they have been punishing his wife and child ever since for Mr. Rautas desire to live in a free country. As I mentioned above. many Congressmen and Senators. especially Chairman VANIK. have tried to assist Constantin Rauta in obtaining exit visas for his wife and child from the Romanian Government. The State Department is well acquainted with Mr. Rautas case. and they have received many letters on his behalf from the Congress. Yet. the Romanian Government refuses to grant these visas. and they have placed Mrs. Rauta and her son under virtual house arrest. Mr. Rauta has talked with me and my staff on several occasions regarding his family in Romania. I have contacted the State Department and was told that they were working on reuniting the family. but that the Romanian Government was very hardheaded on this case. That is why it is so upsetting when our Government just waives compliance with the freedom of emigration sections of the Trade Act of 1974 and does not press Romania on some these unresolved divided family cases. If the United States is not going to ask countries to comply with some of the agreements they sign. such as the United Nations Universal Human Rights Declaration. which Romania signed. or the Helsinki accords. then what is the purpose of concluding these agreements. If we do not carry out the provisions of those agreements by allowing for freer emigration policies and the right to request asylum in another country. then these declarations of human rights are nothing more than nicesounding words which most people have no intention of honoring. I think we should be honest with ourselves. and I ask that the administration thoroughly reviews what it says about human rights. If it is serious about wanting to stop human rights violations. then let us press the Romanian Government to reunite divided families. such as the Rauta family. If the administration is not serious. then let us stop all of these grand meetings around the globe where the world leaders profess their commitment to freedom and the right to emigrate. I urge the Members who are truly concerned about human rights to support Congressman SCHULZEs resolution and not extend the waiver on MFN status for Romania.O