Indeed. numerous people in the West have appealed to Soviet authorities on behalf of Shcharansky. To date. those appeals have gone unanswered and fears for Shcharanskys health grow. The treatment accorded Shcharansky. coupled with the Soviet record on emigration. is cause for serious concern and condemnation. Soviet emigration. which reached a peak of 51.333 in 1979. fell to 1.314 in 1983. despite the fact that there are thousands upon thousands more wishing to emigrate. Furthermore. recent statements in he Soviet press suggest an even more restrictive emigration policyone that may effectively end what little flow here has been in recent years. We in the West view emigrationfor whatever reasonas a basic human right. a right which belongs to each inflvidual. We see it as a principle for the civilized world. and concern for our fellow man dictates that we seek Its extension. Today on the anniversary of Anatoly Shcharanskys arrest. we seek to reaffirm our commitment to basic human rights. including the rights to emigrate and to practice ones religion freely. and to impress upon the Soviet Union the necessity of their adhering to basic human rights. There is a new Soviet leadership. rhere is perhaps no better time than now for the Soviet Union to begin to chart a different path in terms of recognition and observation of basic human rights for its own citizens.
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