Speaker. we have heard much in recent weeks about the Soviet Unions "new" policy of glasnost. or openness. regarding its dealings with both its citizens and other nations of the world. However. upon closer inspection. one will find that this new policy consists more of empty rhetoric than actual deeds. True. there have been some families who have been allowed to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the free world. and for that. we are grateful. But the happy ending for these families are but small victories . . . victories that are overshadowed by the thousands and thousands of individuals whose happy endings have yet to be written and whose dreams remain unfulfilled. During the first two months of 1987. and following the implementation of the new emigration law on January 1. only 244 Soviet Jews were allowed to leave. This is not a significant improvement over the number of Soviet Jews who were allowed to leave during 1985 and 1986. In fact. almost 400.000 Jews continue to be denied the right to be with their loved ones and practice their religious beliefs. Since my election to Congress in 1983. I have tried to secure the release of several families who sought to emigrate from the Soviet Union. One of those families. Boris and Irene Ghinis. was finally allowed to emigrate last year and arrived in the United States several months ago after more than 8 years of struggle. I recently received a letter from the Ghinis. in which they wrote. "At this moment of our happiness we cannot forget about many of our friends. who have been struggling for many years for free emigration from the Soviet Union." The have asked me to help secure the release of three families in particular. Alexander and Irina Berdichevski. who have been trying to emigrate since 1982. the Yusephoviches. who have been refuseniks since 1980. and the Shustoroviches. who have sought the right to emigrate since 1977. I have taken up the cause of these three families. and have added them to the group of families I continue to fight for. the Mikhail Kazanovich family. the Antanas Vausa family. and the family of Nachman Komack. As we continue to fight for the rights of Soviet Jews and people around the world who live under oppressive states. it is imperative that we impress upon Soviet leaders that we have not been duped by their claims of glasnost. and that countries with true policies of openness place a higher regard on the rights of the individual. not the iron will of the government. Steady and constant pressure can move a seemingly immovable object. Let us take courage from the infinite strength and unflagging faith of those who seek freedom. and redouble our efforts on behalf of the thousands in the Soviet Union who ask no more than the right to exercise their religious freedom. emigrate. and be reunited with their families.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration