While these developments are certainly encouraging. we must not lose sight of reality. The situation for Jews In the U.S.S.R. has not improved and there is no evidence that it Is changing. Last year emigration levels fell to an alltime low of 896 as compared to over 50.000 just 6 years ago. On September 30. during an interview with French journalists. Soviet General Secretary. Mikhail Gorbachev specified two criteria for the emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union. First. they must wait 5 to 10 years from the time of their last exposure to state secrets. Second. they must express their desire to be reunited with family abroad. My files contain the names of well over a dozen cases that have met these requirements yet are still being denied their right to emigrate. One such case is that of Vladimir Prestin who has now waited 14 years from the time he first applied for an exit visa. Prestin. a computer engineer who wishes to emigrate to Israel. quit his Job in 1968 to avoid being denied an exit visa because of the excuse that he knew "scientific secrets." Since then. he has found employment in various odd jobs that require no technical expertise. Since 1970 he has been continuously denied permission to emigrate on the grounds that he knows technical secrets. During this time. he and his family have endured years of harassment. In light of such cases we must continue to insist on a regular emigration policy guaranteeing the right to emigrate and be reunited with loved ones abroad. As we progress. an understanding of such basic human rights must be an integral part of the developing relationship between the United States and Soviet Union.
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emigrate emigration visa