Speech #990008015

While I am certainly pleased to be able to make a statement on their behalf. I am troubled by the fact that I and many others in this body have made similar statements in the past. While we continue to express our concern for these individuals. the Soviet Union continues to slow the process of emigration and continues to deny many individuals the right to emigrate. Last year only 896 Jews were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. This is the lowest amount allowed to leave in 20 years. Equally disturbing is the fact that over 350.000 Jews have expressed an interest in emigrating. The right of any individual to leave any country. including ones own. is an internationally recognized human right upheld by the Helsinki Final Act and other international agreements ratified by the Soviet Union. Nevertheless the Soviet Union continues to deny certain individuals this right. The permission to emigrate is given arbitrarilyfor some it takes monthsthese are the fortunate onesfor others it takes years and many more are permanently forbidden to leave. Although the process is long and arduous. Soviet Jews continue to apply. The process of emigration in the Soviet Union is one that would certainly discourage most individuals. In America. we expect certain actions to occur within a given timeframe. When we go to a Federal office to request a certain action we are given an idea of how long this may take. We expect this information. However. from the day a Soviet Jew applies for emigration to the day of departure. months or years may pass. The delay would be difficult enough. but in addition to this. the emigration process may be marked by constant harassment and deliberate bureaucratic delays. Often a Soviet Jew must request several invitations from the country he wishes to go to before actually receiving one because these invitations are intercepted in the mail. Many invitations are never received. In addition. the Office of Visas and Registration does not keep regular working hours. Instead. these offices may be open only 1 or 2 days a week. with brief working hours. requiring several visits to the office before the paperwork is completed. Another difficulty in this process is the fact that while many individuals are not permitted to leave. they are not denied either. Unless an individual is denied. he cannot reapply. Therefore for months or even years. an individual may be waiting for some type of action to occur. The emigration process that I have outlined is one that would be discouraging to the most determined individual. The difficulties that these individuals must endure in order to even come close to leaving the Soviet Union exemplify their strong desire to emigrate. The courage and perseverance shown by these individuals certainly deserve our respect. As long as there are Jews in the Soviet Union desiring to emigrate. there will be Americans who will be watching and waiting for the Soviet Union to allow these people to leave. I believe it is vitally important that we stand behind these strong individuals and do what we can to help them in their quest for freedom..