One of the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act sought to promote freedom of movement across borders. This provision has yet to be implemented by the Soviet Union. It is true indeed that the Soviets have increased their emigration figures this past year. It is also true that this trend is expected to continue through 1980. But we should not let ourselves be misled by these "gains." The case of Ida Nudel. serving a 4year sentence of internal exile in Siberia. the only woman in a barracks full of hardened male criminals. is one of the many reminders that "there is nothing new under the Sun" in the steppes of the U.S.S.R. Increases in emigration do not reflect a change in policy. They merely attest the importance in which the Soviets hold the obtainment of hopefor trade agreements and the ratification of SALT II. for which they are simply willing to throw in a few more chips on the bargaining table. We should not lose sight of the unique opportunity that we presently hold in insisting that the Soviet Union abide past international agreements.
Keywords matched
emigration