Speech #990187559

President. as a participant in the congressional call to conscience. I welcome the opportunity to make this statement concerning the issue of Soviet Jewry. From our perspective today it becomes more and more apparent and distressful that the Soviets callously use those Soviet Jews desiring to emigrate to Israel as pawns in the Soviets political maneuvering visavis the West. The fate of Soviet Jews has been correlated with the Wests attempts at bettering relations with the Soviet Union. Traditionally. Soviet Jews have been allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union on the condition that they submit an invitation from a relative living in Israel. But before the 1960s. few of the Soviet Jews were allowed to leave the country under this provision. For example. from May 1948 to 1953. only 18 Jews were allowed to emigrate to Israel. With the improvement in relations between the Soviet Union and the West. emigration totals remarkably improved. The emigration of over 100.000 Soviet Jews occurred in conjunction with detente. The West German policy of Ostpolitik. and the signing of the U.S.-U.S.S.R. Trade Agreement. The emigration of Soviet Jews was again curbed in 1974 when it became apparent that the trade agreement would not go into force due to mostfavorednation restrictions as well as credits contained in the Trade and ExportImport Bank Acts of 1974. From 1975 until 1977. only 44.218 Jews were allowed to emigrate. Emigration of Soviet Jews improved once again during 1978 and 1979. The Salt II Treaty and the improved chances of Western trade and credits opened the door to 80.184 Jews. These improved emigration statistics came to an end with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the ensuing deterioration of United StatesSoviet relations. New restrictions were applied for emigration from the Soviet Union. Jewish citizens wishing to leave the Soviet Union could only submit invitations from immediate family members. For a 5year period from 1980 to 1984. only 35.816 Soviet Jews have been allowed to emigrate. The Soviet Union claims that emigration numbers are falling because family reunification and repatriation are almost complete. This official response cannot account for the fact that 400.000 Soviet Jews have applied for visas. 20.000 of these. the refuseniks. have applied and been refused permission to leave. I find it appalling that the Soviet Union would use the fate of a people as a bargaining chip for better relations with the West. There has been some indication that the current situation with Soviet Jewry might improve.