Speech #970203895

In light of this decline. I urge all American citizens. Representatives of Congress. and members of the administration to protest to Soviet officials about such an emigration policy. Particularly I would hope that the latter group. with access to the diplomatic forum. will emphasize official U.S. concern with the flagrant human rights violations embodied in Soviet emigration policy. It is incumbent on all of us to use every opportunity to press upon Soviet officials our alarm over their emigration policy and our distaste for it. American policy toward the Soviet Union cannot hinge solely on the emigration concern. Obviously. the issue must be addressed in the context of overall United StatesSoviet policy and with ample consideration of the strategic. economic. and political questions comprehensive policy incorporates. Neither. however. can we deny the relation between United StatesSoviet relations in general and the emigration issue in specific. There can be no doubt that the importance Americans have attached to freer Soviet emigration was instrumental in prompting the high levels that developed in the late 1970s. A chill in the EastWest dialog has ebbed the tide of emigration. now more than ever. renewed dedication to pursuing the emigration issue with Soviet officials is in order.o