Speech #980260541

I rise today to speak as part of the 1984 congressional call to conscience on behalf of Soviet Rufusenik Viktor Fulmahkt and his family. Mr. Fulmahkt and his family have applied for but been denied permission to emigrate to Israel by the Soviet authorities. This refusal is one more example of Soviet human rights violations and the failure to adhere to specific treaty obligations. We are all aware of the difficulties facing Jews seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union. Since 1968. 263.851 Jews have emigrated from the U.S.S.R. but some 300.000 others who have indicated an interest in doing so have not been permitted to leave. The Soviet Governments denial of visas to these 300.000 is clearly in violation of its international treaty obligations. in particular the provisions of three treaties: First. the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (1947). Second. the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (1966). Third. Basket III of the CSCE Final Act (1975). Viktor Fulmahkt and his family are among those who have been denied the fundamental right of emigration in contravention of these treaties. Their story is not an unusual one. Mr.