As a policy goalas a policy leverit has clearly failed. We must ask ourselves what exactly the United States gets in exchange for granting MFN. Emigration problems still exist. Although this year 1.000 more people were allowed to emigrate. we must note that the concession was made the day before President Reagans decision on MFN waiver. Emigration was not used as leverage. but as ransom for the United States to legitimize MFN status in Romania. Jeri Labor of the U.S. Helsinki Committee argues that ploys such as this merely "distract attention from other impediments of emigration. * * *." Moreover. religious persecution remains a constant threat to Christian activists. Terrorism is spreading throughout Romania and surrounding countries. and assassination attempt reports are growing. Trade between the United States and Romania is grossly imbalanced in favor of the Eastern European needs. The political reality is that the government of this country is a totalitarian dictatorship run by the Communist regime of Nicolae Ceausescu. Information regarding the MFN trade status for Romania in relation to its emigration and human rights practices strongly suggests that the trade concessions and guarantees being provided by the United States are being used as a ransom for their own citizensplain and simple. Why should we support Romania in their complicity? Why should we indicate approval of their failure to comply to our trade agreement policies?
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emigrate emigration Emigration