But so long as we defend the freedom of all men. the tyranny under which they live is mitigated. In agreeing to the Helsinki accords. the signatory nations have acknowledged their adherence to the principles of freedom. Not. perhaps. to the sophisticated modes of parliamentary democracy. but to the basic rights of citizens to emigrate. to be reunited with their families and to enjoy at least the minimal respect by their government of their individuality and personal worth. In the contemporary world where governments seek the respect and recognition of other nations. this is the least we can demand. Soviet emigration policy. especially in the case of minorities. exemplifies the individual. cultural and religious repression that the Soviet regime imposes on many of its citizens. Because they have been denied the right to speak. the right to publish freely. the right to freedom of expression. and above all the right to freely practice their religion. many Soviet citizens have felt compelled to apply for emigration visas. However. the emigration.. process itself is demoralizing. It is unpredictable and arbitrary. and becomes for many a futile. nightmarish experience. Applicants systematically are demoted or fired from their jobs. watched. followed. harassed. interrogated. searched. silenced by being sent to psychiatric hospitals. and ultimately imprisoned or banished to hard labor camps in Siberia. In recent years the rate of emigration from the Soviet Union has dramatrically declined. For example. only 1.314 Jews were allowed to emigrate in 1983 as compared with 51.320 in 1979. These statistics are alarming and are in direct contravention of the Helsinki accords. By proclaiming August 1. 1984. the ninth anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki accords. as "Helsinki Human Rights Day." we are reaffirming our commitment to the principles upon which our own democracy was founded.
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emigrate emigration visas