Speech #960334479

I am proud to be principal cosponsor of Senate Concurrent Resolution 60 expressing the sense of the Congress affirming the support of the United States for full implementation of all the provisions of the Helsinki accords. Few subjects have achieved such constant attention as the plight of those in the Soviet Union who have been denied basic human rights because of their religious beliefs. The Soviet Union continues to subject these people to harsh retaliation. when their only crime is to request permission to emigrate to the Western World. The Soviets have signed such international documents as the Helsinki accords and then show little interest in fully implementing the provisions of that agreement. This resolution expresses the Sense of the Congress that the President. acting through the Secretary of State. or any other appropriate officer of the executive branch. should continue to confirm the support of the United States for full implementation of the agreement and to communicate to the Soviet Union in the strongest terms the disapproval of the United States of religious harassment and restrictions on the freedom to emigrate. It further calls on the President to advise the Soviets that we expect them to honor their commitments under this agreement and other international law. Last year. I visited the Soviet Union and met with some of those who have been trying to emigrate. It is difficult to describe the feeling of hopelessness that accompanies the stories these people have to tell. not only of their own deprivations. but of those of friends and family members. many of whom have disappeared into psychiatric hospitals and forced labor camps throughout Russia. We cannot betray the hopes and prayers of those who look to the United States to be the continuing champion of human rights. Mr. President. the persecution of which I speak cannot be denied. Ten thousand evangelical Protestants had their names and addresses published in 1979 as witness to their desire to emigrate from the Soviet Union. The latest estimate sets the figure at some 50 thousand Soviet Christians. mostly Pentecostals and Baptists. who want to leave the Soviet Union. Nearly every Member of this body has signed many letters on behalf of Soviet Jews wishing to emigrate to Israel or America. While these letters are faithfully delivered. the response to them is most often negative. Despite these disappointments. we must continue our efforts--continue to givehope through instruments like the passage of this resolution.