Speech #980166626

Each country must take steps that will lessen tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. tensions from which no one has benefited. United StatesSoviet relations are at their lowest ebb in a generation. An indication of its status is the level of Soviet Jewish emigration. Unfortunately. Soviet Jewish emigration levels continue to serve as an accurate barometer of the two superpowers relations. And it is clear from the statistics on departures that the Soviet Jewish community is a real casualty of the deteriorating relations of our Government and the Soviets. It is disheartening to note that only 1.315 Jews were granted exit visas to leave the Soviet Union in 1983. This is an alarming decline from a high of 51.320 Jews who were permitted to emigrate in 1979. As a nation founded by emigrants on the principles of freedom and democracy. the United States must continue to urge the Soviet Union to improve its human rights policy. Central to the concept of basic human rights is the right to emigrate freely. Thus. I appeal to the new leadership in the Kremlin to stop its harassment of the Jewish community. to allow Jews and others to emigrate. and to adhere to the human rights provisions guaranteed in the Helsinki accords. to which the Soviet Union is a signatory. To indicate its wish to improve the current situation. the Soviet leadership could make a significant symbolic gesture by ending the imprisonment of Anatoly Shcharansky. Lev Elbert. and losif Begun. and by allowing them to emigrate. There are other refuseniks too numerous to mention who are less well known. but who have waited just as long. if not longer. to emigrate. I urge Moscow to honor their right to do so. I also wish to renew my request of last year that Moscow grant exit visas to seven noted scientistsMark Freidlin. Semon Katz. Victor Kipnis. Yuri and Olga Medvedkov. Alexander Paritsky. and Valery Soyferso that they may accept the invitation of the University of Southern California to teach there. A reversal in the Soviet emigration policy would make an important and favorable impact on overall United StatesSoviet relations. I ask my colleagues to join me in redoubling our efforts on behalf of Soviet Jews. a people who have suffered too deeply and too long. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that a table showing the declining numbers of Soviet Jews granted exit visas be inserted in the RECORD at this time.