President. I would like to call to the attention of the Senate an article in the New York Times edition of March 25. 1987. concerning recent humanitarian stirrings in the Soviet Union. This article says that more than 400 Soviet Jews have received permission to emigrate in Marchthis is the highest monthly figure since 1981. Mikhail Gorbachev seems to be serious in his attempt to pry open. somewhat. the doors of Soviet society. Year after year Members of Congress stand up to plead the case of refuseniks who are denied their right to leave the Soviet Union. Year after year we have written letters on their behalf. For too long the plight of Soviet Jews has been a sticking point between the superpowers. But as long as the basic human right of emigration is denied. you can be sure that year after year we will continue to fight and plead on behalf of those who want to leave the Soviet Union. Perhaps Mikhail Gorbachev has finally realized that the stakes are too high to let this point of contention persist. I hope that these new releases are only the beginning. Americans must not and will not forget the 400.000 of the 1.7 million Jews in the Soviet Union who have expressed a desire to leave. Americans cherish freedom. The idea that any people would be singled out and prohibited from emigrating is alien to our culture. The plight of Soviet Jews. Armenians. and Pentecostals will always be important to Americans and will always be placed on the agenda for any discussions with the Soviet Union.
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