Speech #970149591

I am pleased that Congress is today considering House Conference Resolution 100. affirming the concern of this Congress about the plight of two Pentecostal families which have sought refuge In the American Embassy. The Chmykhalov and Vashchenko families. who have lived in an apartment in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow since June 1978. have sought only the right to emigrate from the Soviet Union. Lidiya and Augustina Vashchenko dramatized their plight earlier this year by entering into a hunger strike. which eventually resulted in Lidiyas hospitalization. Nevertheless. the Soviet Government remains firm in its refusal to allow these two brave families to emigrate. By passing House Concurrent Resolution 100. the Congress can send a clear signal to the Soviets that we are deeply concerned about their refusal to respect the emigration provisions of the Helsinki accords. evidenced by their refusal to respect the Chmykhalov and Vashchenko families right to emigrate.*