Switzerland. to review compliance with this aspect of the act. On Tuesday. I chaired a hearing of the Commission on Eastbloc emigration policies and human contacts. During the course of the hearing a number of experts provided testimony which painted a clear picture of the bleak situation faced by Soviet Jews today. My concerns regarding Soviet Jewry are twofold: a desire to help those who seek to emigrate from the Soviet Union. and to ensure that the rights of those who remain behind are safeguarded. Despite assertions by Soviet authorities that those Soviet Jews who wish to emigrate have already done so. 380.000 Soviet Jews have requested letters of invitation from relatives in Israel. the first step in the arduous emigration process. The Final Act clearly states that. "The participating states will deal in a positive and humanitarian spirit with the application of persons who wish to be reunited with members of their family." Nevertheless. the Soviet Union continues to deny this basic right to thousands of Soviet Jews. Soviet Jewish emigration. which reached a peak in 1979 when 51.000 Soviet Jews were permitted to leave. has fallen off to little more than a trickle. During 1985. 1.140 Soviet Jews received visas enabling them to be reunited with relatives in Israel. Thus far this year. visas have been issued to 79 in January. 84 in February. and 47 in March. Estimates indicate that at least 20.000 Soviet Jews have been refused permission to emigrate. Of these "refuseniks." as they are come to be called. hundreds have languished for more than 10 years while waiting to join their families. Those who request permission to emigrate often do so at great personal risk. Many are fired from their jobs. denied access to education and subjected to other forms of harassment by the secret policethe KGB. The Soviet Union has undertaken a concerted effort to eliminate all forms of Jewish culture.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration visas