Speech #990153705

We cannot help but be moved upon seeing this man emerge from 9 years of brutal treatment in Soviet prisons. unbroken. stronger than ever before in his dedication to the cause of human rights. not only in the Soviet Union. but around tile world. Anatoly. or Natan as he now asks to be called. is. in the true sense of the term. a free man. But Shcharanskys emancipation is more than an opportunity for celebration: It is an opportunity for us to rededicate ourselves to the cause Shcharansky representsan end to the unjust treatment of Jews and others in the Soviet Union. and a substantial improvement in Soviet emigration policies. The release of Shcharansky. and the recent announcement. following Senator KENNEDYS meeting with General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev. that the visa applications of 19 Soviet Jews would be given "positive consideration." are hopeful signs. We must not forget. however. that there has not yet been any indication that the Soviet leadership has decided to resume Jewish emigration on a significant scale. Indeed. there is every reason for us to withhold optimism: In 1985. only 1.140 Jews were permitted to emigrate. compared to 51.320 in 1979. An estimated 350.000 to 400.000 of the 2 million Jews living in the Soviet Union have indicated a desire to emigrate. Given the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union. this figure is not surprising. Jews are subject to discrimination and harassment at every level of Soviet society. Officially sponsored antiSemitic propaganda. discrimination in education and employment. and restrictions on religious practices are commonplace. Those who apply to leave are faced with losing their jobs and being placed in prisons or mental institutions. Recent history suggests that the number of Jews allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union is closely linked to the overall tone of U.S.-U.S.S.R. relations. When detente was at a peak In 1979. at the conclusion of negotiations for SALT II. the Soviet Union allowed some 51.000 Jews to leave its borders. In 1984. when relations had reached their nadir. a mere 894 exit visas were granted. In this respect. the recent warming trend in superpower ties is a hopeful sign for refuseniks. Other positive trends are discernible.