Speech #970126265

Jews in the Soviet Union find themselves in a "Catch22" situation. The Governments antisemitic policies and practices threaten their economic. physical. and emotional security. As discrimination continues to increase. more and more Soviet Jews see emigration as the only viable means of selfpreservation. Yet. the chances of obtaining an exit visa are growing smaller every day. Although the Soviet Union does not recognize the right of its citizens to emigrate. the Soviet Government has sporadically allowed Jews to leave under a policy of family reunification. The Soviet Government controls the ebb and flow of Jews to Israel and other countries in the West through a variety of administrative practices and restrictions which are placed on the application process. As more and more restrictions have been imposed in the last 2 years. Jewish emigration has decreased dramatically. In 1979 a record level 50.000 Jews were allowed to leave. In 1980 the number plummeted to 20.000. Jewish emigration for 1981 is even more depressed. As of November. only about 8.500 Jews have left for the West. As these figures indicate. emigration is no longer a means by which Soviet Jews can escape the frightening and discriminatory policies and practices of the Soviet GovernmentMr. President. for many years I have worked to try to alleviate the plight of Soviet Jews and to force the Soviet Union to grant basic human rights and fundamental freedoms to all of its citizens. As a member and former cochairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.