Speech #960285323

Mr. President. on July 28 I added my name as a cosponsor to S. 2890. a bill to assist the two Soviet Pentecostal families who have sought refuge in the American Embassy in Moscow. This legislation will issue American visas to the two members of the Maria Chymykhalov family and the seven members of the Peter Vashchenko family so they will attain permanent residence status in the first step toward becoming U.S. citizens. June 27. 1980. marked the second anniversary on which the Vashchenko and Chymykhalov families sought refuge in the Embassy in their effort to emigrate from the Soviet Union. During these 2 years the status of their situation has changed little. The two families live together in one small room. with little access to the outside world. While the Embassy provides them with food. clothing. and other necessary services. reports indicate -that attempts are being made to further isolate the families from the press. the public. and Embassy staff. At the same time that this alienation exists within the Embassy. no progress is being made toward obtaining the necessary exit visas from the Soviet Union. One of the stumbling blocks seems to be a confusion on the part of the State Department personnel as to the correct immigration status of these families. Clearly it is time to end this stalemate. S. 2890 giving these people permanent residence status should help alleviate some of the strained relationship within the Embassy at this time. and will allow our diplomats to proceed in a more orderly and forceful manner in convincing the Soviets to grant them exit visas. Because of concerns that this could lead to similar events at other diplomatic posts around the world. this legislation is tightly constructed so as not to become a broad precedent for others who seek residence in the United States in this manner. Two years is far too long for this situation to have existed. If we are going to convince the Soviets to give these families exit visas. we must clarify the situation and improve the conditions of these two families so we can move ahead in these efforts.0