Mr. Speaker. because of mixed signals affecting Soviet policy regarding refuseniks and prisoners of conscience. Earlier Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Gerasimov contradicted a statement by Communist Party General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev about the time limits required before individuals involved in classified work will be permitted to emigrate. In 1985. Secretary Gorbachev stated that the time limit was generally 5 years and that the very upper limit was 10 years. Mr. Gerasimov said Secretary Gorbachevs statement "was a mistake." He went on to say that there were categories of state secrets which could not be limited. and were therefore indefinite. "There are institutions in our country where even 30 years of security classification could be inadequate." he said. He then went on to state that refusenik Naum Meiman would never be allowed to emigrate. Mr. Speaker. this inconsistent and arbitrary policy denies to citizens of the Soviet Union human rights which their government has pledged to guarantee. It is imperative that Soviet Jews. Christians. Moslems. and people of all religions be entitled to their right to emigrate if they wish. They should also be permitted to exercise their right to freely practice their religion if they so desire. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that. "recognition of the inherent dignity of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom. justice and peace in the world." Mr. Speaker. if the Soviet Union cannot keep this solemn obligation which it has pledged to observe. how can we expect that the Soviet Union will observe other international obligations that it has or may yet enter into? Mr. Speaker. it is my sincere hope that the leaders of the Soviet Union will come to realize the crucial importance of the observance of human rights. including the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate or freely to practice their religion if they remain in their country. Human rights is the foundation of good relations between our two nations.
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emigrate