Speech #980005216

A text of the resolution follows: H. Con. Res. 63 Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress concerning the compliance by the Soviet Union with certain international agreements on human rights Whereas the Soviet Union is pursuing a policy of virtually closing its borders to Jewish emigration. as evidenced by declining emigration levels which for 1982 were the lowest since 1970. with only 2.688 Soviet Jews allowed to emigrate. Whereas this policy has left tens of thousands of people seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union with little hope of being granted permission to emigrate in the foreseeable future: Whereas there are several hundred longterm "refuseniks". including many children. who applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union between 1970 and 1976 and have been waiting for permission to emigrate since that time. Whereas those who have been denied emigration rights. especially the longterm "refuseniks". are often subjected to a life as internal refugees in the Soviet Union. resulting in loss of jobs. loss of membership in important social and professional organizations. revocation of academic degrees. surveillance and arbitrary assault. and other forms of harassment and social isolation. Whereas these individuals also suffer physical. emotional. and psychological problems which result from social isolation. Whereas these individuals are also denied the right to cultural expression. evidenced by the breaking up of cultural seminars and Hebrew classes and harassment by Soviet officials of those individuals participating in those forms of cultural expression. Whereas these individuals are subjected to arbitrary arrest. imprisonment. and internal exile. as is the case with the Jewish "Prisoners of Conscience" currently serving sentences in the Soviet Union. Whereas it is the stated policy of United States law. including section 502B(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and section 402 of the Trade Act of 1974. that human rights considerations are a vital element of United States foreign policy. and Whereas the Soviet Union. by arbitrarily denying its citizens the right to emigrate and the right to religious and cultural expression. and by harassing members of a specific ethnic group. is violating international agreements. including the Helsinki Final Act. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. the International Covenant on Economic. Social and Cultural Rights. the International Labor Organization Convention Concerning Employment Policy. and the UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination in Education: Now. therefore. be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring). That it is the sense of the Congress that(1) the Soviet Union should comply with the Helsinki Final Act. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. and other international agreements relating to human rights. by pursuing a more humane emigration policy and ceasing harassment of Jews and others seeking to emigrate. (2) compliance by the Soviet Union with internationally recognized emigration rights would significantly promote improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. (3) the President or his representatives should convey to Soviet officials the concerns of the Congress expressed in this resolution at every appropriate opportunity. including(A) at such time as agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union. relating to trade and commerce. including grain sales. and to science and technology exchange. are negotiated. and (B) at such appropriate times as the President or his representatives meet with leaders of the Soviet Union concerning other aspects of relations between the two countries. and (4) the President or his representatives should also convey these concerns of the Congress to the governments of United States allies and urge the cooperation of those governments in efforts to promote emigration from the Soviet Union. SEc. 2. The Clerk of the House shall transmit a copy of this concurrent resolution to the President with the request that he transmit such copy to the Government of the Soviet Union.*