Speaker. I rise today to join my colleagues who are participating in the Third Annual Congressional Fast and Prayer Vigil for Soviet Jewry. The number of Jews within the past year who have been allowed to emigrate has reached an unprecedented low level. Less than 900 Jews were allowed to emigrate in 1984. Visas are denied for the most absurd reasons and in addition to these denials. Soviet Jews are subjected to antiSemitic campaigns that are government sanctioned. many often being imprisoned or exiled internally. I want to bring to the attention of my colleagues and the authorities of the Soviet Union the plight of three families that I have been sponsoring. the Boris Ghinis family. the Mikhail Kazanovich family. and the Antanas Vausa family. These three families. two of whom are of Jewish descent and the other of Lithuanian descent. have all been denied emigration for years and have all had to endure incredible hardships in their plight to emigrate. A new leader has been appointed in the Soviet Union. We are currently sitting down with the Soviets in Geneva over arms negotiations. and the President has expressed an interest in meeting for the first time a Soviet President. Mr. Speaker. there is no better time than now to raise a united. strong voice against these violations of human rights which Soviet Jews and all those wishing to emigrate from the Soviet Union must endure in their everyday lives. Mr. Gorbachev must be made to understand that if true improvement in relations between our two countries is to be achieved. the Soviet Union must commit itself to its international treaty obligations and respect the human rights of all its citizens. I pray that next year there will be no need for a Congressional Fast and Prayer Vigil for Soviet Jewry. that the rights of Soviet Jews and all those wishing to emigrate will be upheld. but until that day comes. I along with my colleagues that Join with me today in participating in this very important and special vigil will continue to raise our voices In protest and defend the human rights of all those who are oppressed.*
Keywords matched
emigrate Visas emigration