Speech #1000019610

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 34. legislation I have cosponsored that establishes as a priority of the 100th Congress efforts to support the restoration of emigration rights for Jews living in the Soviet Union. This resolution strongly protests the Soviet Unions continuing violations of a number of international human rights accords. including the Helsinki final act. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. and the International Covenants on Human Rights. These agreements obligate signatory nations. including the Soviet Union. to respect basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. including the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. Among the most notable Soviet violations of these rights are new. restrictive regulations that prohibit Soviet Jews from emigrating to Israel. the United States. or other Western nations where they will be permitted to worship freely. Thousands of Soviet Jews have petitioned the government to approve their emigration requests. yet last year Soviet authorities allowed only 914 Jews to emigrate. the second lowest annual number in the past 20 years. The denial of these requests to leave the country has been accompanied by increased Soviet efforts to harass and punish Jewish officials in the Soviet Union who lead efforts to study and celebrate their cultural heritage. For a number of years. I have spoken out in support of our Nations efforts to exert pressure on Soviet leaders to eliminate this persecution of Soviet Jews. While these efforts have met with mixed results. the more than 400.000 Soviet Jews who have indicated a desire to emigrate are aware of our support for their efforts and continue to remain hopeful that someday they will be able to worship freely in the land of their choice. Early signals by General Secretary Gorbachev indicated that the Soviet attitude toward emigration rights for Soviet Jews might be changing. With the exception of a few well publicized cases. however. the Soviets continue to deny emigration rights to Jews seeking to relocate. especially to prisoners of conscience. divided families. and refuseniks. Mr. Speaker. House Concurrent Resolution 34 sends a signal that Soviet leaders could achieve an important measure of credibility by living up to public statements that they are serious about opening their society up to observe many of the basic human rights and values that they have denied the Soviet people for many years. Soviet actions in the next few months. especially efforts to free thousands of Jews to emigrate. will be an important test of Soviet resolve and sincerity as we contemplate potential lasting and farreaching negotiations on nuclear weapons and military forces.