We as representatives of the American people. as representatives of the U.S. Government and as defenders of the American ideal must hear those cries and respond to them. We offer the brightest hope for increased emigration and improved human rights for these deprived citizens of the Communist state. We must never remain silent on this issue. Silence woud seal a terrible fate for those people desperately in need of help. We must use every opportunity to convey our sentiments and our outrage. which we know to be justified and right. to Soviet officials. To borrow the words of our President on another important issue of today. "If not us. who? If not now. when?" As the arms talks progress in Geneva. let us remind the Soviet negotiators of our concern for Soviet Jewry. emigration. and human rights. Let us push the Soviets to adhere to their acceptance of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. the Helsinki accords. and the concluding document of the Madrid followup meeting on the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. It is our moral obligation to press for these -basic principles of human rights.. Finally. this week I am proud to have adopted ..three refuseniks and look forward to working toward their successful emigration from the Soviet Union. In todays vigil. I participated on the behalf of one of those three.
Keywords matched
emigration