I have urged the President to give human rights in the Soviet Union a top priority at the next summit. scheduled for later in this year. in the hopes that we can work toward achieving freedom of all of those who are still held in bondage by a system that is sworn to crush individual human liberties and freedom. As we are all aware. the situation for Jews in the Soviet Union has not improved. despite the release of Anatoly Shcharansky. and there Is little evidence to suggest that there is any hope for change. While we are happy with the release of individuals. as they are permitted to reunite with their families and go to their homeland. we must not shirk from our insistence of a regularized emigration policy that provides for the release of the prisoners of conscience. longterm refuseniks. and others who seek to leave the Soviet Union according to international agreements and the same Soviet practices which permitted large numbers to leave in the mid- to late1970s. We must continue. then. to pressure the administration to raise human rights and Jewish emigration in both public and private discussions with the Soviet leadership. and we must also press Secretary Gorbachev to address these issues because they are fundamental to all Americans. public opinion in the West. and the ultimate outcome of current United StatesSoviet relations.
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emigration