President. the National Conference on Soviet Jews has recognized today. February 5. 1987. as "Capitol Hill Action Day" for Soviet Jews. I wish to take this opportunity to speak out against continued Soviet abuses of human rights especially against the Soviet Jews and others who seek to emigrate. We are at a critical time in the history of Soviet emigration policy. Soviet authorities have engaged in a new public relations strategy. attempting to improve its human rights image. While a policy of "glasnost" or openness dominated the Western perception of the Soviet Union. the character and direction of Mikhail Gorbachevs Jewish policy belie this perception. Unquestionably. there has been a discernable shift since Gorbachev assumed leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. For Jews in the Soviet Union. however. the results of the shift such as a new emigration decree. proved to be merely tactical and cosmetic. In fact. there is a continuing shutdown of Jewish emigration. as well as a persistent harassment and intimidation of Jewish selfstudy efforts to sustain culture and religion. The numbers granted permission to exist have fallen from over 50.000 in 1979 to totals of 896 in 1984. 1.140 in 1985. and 914 in 1986keeping in mind that 400.000 Soviet Jews have applied for visas to leave. Clearly. the Soviets have not made efforts to achieve compliance with their Helsinki promises on human rights. We recently passed in this body Senate Concurrent Resolution 8. which I supported. that rightly points out the Soviet Unions horrendous record regarding the treatment of Soviet Jewry. It is important that we in Congress. and in the United States. continue to keep the pressure on the Soviet Government. The work of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and other organizations who care about the plight of the Soviet Jews must be continued long after this one important day on Capitol Hill. The cause of human rights for persons living in the Soviet Union and freedom to leave for those who wish to emigrate. deserve our longterm commitment and attention.*
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emigrate emigration visas