These divided spouses and divided families are a living testament to one of the most cruel manifestations of the Soviet system. It is extremely difficult for us in the United States to understand the motivation for keeping families apartrefusing to allow husbands and wives to be together. preventing brothers and sisters from seeing one another. keeping children from enjoying the company of their parents. Americas concern for these basic human rightsthe right to travel freely. to emigrate. to be with ones familywas one of the major motivations for the extensive negotiations that led to the signing o an agreement between the Soviet Union and the United States: The Helsinki Final Act. which committed the signatories to allow free emigration of their people to other nations. Since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975. a major issue of contention between our two nations has been the implementation of the emigration requirements. Unfortunately. Soviet compliance with the Helsinki agreement has been dismal. Soviet citizens organized to monitor compliance with the agreement have been jailed. the granting of visas to those wishing to leave on religious grounds. including thousands of Jews. has slowed to a trickle. and the release of divided family members has been sporadic and miniscule in number. A particular compelling divided family case is that of Anatoly Michelson and his family. Mr.
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emigrate emigration visas