Much has been made in recent weeks of the release from the gulag of a small number of Soviet dissidents. We should hardly view as some great liberalization the Soviet decision to shift in a handful of cases from outrageous and intolerable abuse of Soviet citizens. to merely disgusting abuse of them. In spite of claims about new emigration regulations. only 914 Jews left the Soviet Union in 1986. Although this years emigration statistics are encouraging. this is a slow beginning. Let us not forget that over 50.000 Jews left that country in 1969. It is regrettable that the much publicized new emigration regulation denies the right to emigrate to all but those having "personal reasons." 400.000 Jewish men. women. and children still want to leave that country. Antisemitism continues to be a part of Soviet policy and Jewish activists are still harassed. There are still many separated families as well as refuseniks who are denied the right to leave the U.S.S.R. If the Soviet leaders want better relationships with the West on such matters as trade and arms control. they should observe the internationally recognized human rights of all Soviet citizens. and especially of Soviet Jews. whose emigration the Soviets have consistantly blocked. I urge my colleagues to vote to suspend the rules and pass the resolution to sent the Soviets a clear message on human rights.
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emigrate emigration