The significance of this vile persecuton. at this time. cannot be overstated. For we are witnessing not merely further harassment of the family of Andrei Sakharov. an historic champion of human rights and civil liberties. but a demonstration of just how lightly the Government of the Soviet Union regards its own formal international commitments and treaty obligations. That the Soviet Union should engage in such flagrant and outrageous violation of the spirit and the letter of the 1975 Helsinki accords. which guarantee the rights of people in Eastern Europe to emigrate freely and communicate across borders. at the very moment the Soviet Union is sitting down with the United States at Geneva to negotiate about strategic arms reductions in Europe. leads one to question just how seriously they will treat any agreement that may result from these talks. Why would the Soviets abide by an agreement to dismantle nuclear missiles. if they cannot fulfill a commitment to allow their own people to travel. to communicate. to emigrate? Mr. President.
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emigrate