Speech #980166536

With the establishment of the AntiZionist Committee of the Soviet Public and the increase of antiSemitic writing in the Soviet press. Jews in the Soviet Union face certain cultural death at the very least. The number of Jews allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union is at an alltime low. In 1982. less than 3.000 Jews emigrated compared to 51.000 in 1979. In 1983. only 1.000 emigrated. a twothirds reduction from the previous year. The Soviet Union is a signatory to the Helsinki accords and the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and subscribe to the principles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. They have agreed to honor freedom of worship. freedom of expression. and the right to emigrate to the country of ones choice. Yet those of the Jewish faith are prohibited these freedoms in the Soviet Union today. The Soviet Union must honor these agreements and allow Soviet Jews to exercise their basic human rights.