The destruction of flight 007 has prompted many observers to reassess the objectives and direction of SovietAmerican relations. Some observers have called for the prompt imposition of strong sanctions against the Soviet Union. including cancellation of a new grain agreement. curtailment of diplomatic relations. adjournment of arms control talks. and elimination of all cultural and education exchange programs. Yet. there is little reason to believe that such a perspective is likely to result in any positive changes for the 500.000 Jews in the Soviet Union who have expressed a desire to emigrate to the West. Since the invasion of Afghanistan and the imposition of martial law in Poland. relations with the Soviet Union have undergone a steady decline. At the same time. emigration figures for Soviet Jews have dropped by more than 95 percent. The downing of the KAL passenger plane came at a time when there was growing evidence of a gradual improvement in SovietAmerican relations. The conclusion of the Conference on Security and Cooperation meeting in Madrid and the granting of emigration visas to the Pentacostalists who were harbored in the U.S. Embassy for years were but two recent signs of an improvement in relations. They were also a small indication that such a trend can be tied to tangible progress in the area of human rights.
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emigrate emigration visas