I personally realize that progress in this area is often slow and agonizing. Since 1982 I have signed over 60 letters to Soviet officials urging a resolution of specific refusenik cases. The more interest in each case that we can generate. the less likely it Is that the abuse these people have sulfered will continue and the more likely it is that they will be allowed to emigrate. The successful departure of Yakov Mesh and Anatoly Shcharansky reaffirms the fact that it is only through coordinated and concerted action on all levels that attention can be drawn to individual cases and to the problem as a whole. We cannot fool ourselves into believing that such victories signal a genuine relaxation of Soviet emigration restrictions. We must continue. in the strongest possible terms. to urge the Soviet authorities to adhere to their commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Helsinki accords. and to open their doors to those who wish to leave.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration