Speech #980169175

Speaker. the deterioration of the life of the Jews in the Soviet Union over the past year is a source of sorrow and indignation to the American people on this International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews and the seventh anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of Anatoly Shcharansky. Though Yuri Andropov ruled barely 15 months as the Soviet Communist Party leader and head of state. his governments campaign of repression against Soviet Jews was unparalleled since the worst years of Stalins dictatorship. Soviet officials reported last year that family reunification for Soviet Jews was "essentially completed." and the number of visas issued was the lowest in 10 years. Those of us who have had the opportunity to spend time with refuseniks in the Soviet Union know that great numbers of Jews live from day to day with the hope that they will be reunited with their loved ones abroad. American organizations estimate that 300.000 Jews want to emigrate. One of the most frightening developments in the last year was the creation of the official AntiZionist Committee to spread vicious propaganda about the activities of the Israeli Government and its supporters. It is responsible for some of the most revolting propaganda ever generated by the Soviet Government against Jews.