Speech #1000062314

Hungary. and China receive MFN treatment under the JacksonVanik provision. Hungary and China. I think it is fair to say. have fairly good records of open emigration at the present time. In fact. I believe I can state accurately. reunification case that remains unresolved in Hungary. according to the administration. China has increased its number of immigrants every year since 1979. and the number of immigrants is significant. The same is not true of Romania. Romania fails to allow thousands of its citizens to emigrate and continues to harass those who apply to leave for the West. While Romania made attempts to comply with increased inmigration requirements since 1984. since that time the number of people permitted to emigrate has dropped from 21.000 in 1984 to 17.000 in 1985 and June 26. 1.987 15.000 in 1986. It is true that this year. the monthly immigration figures for the first half is slightly ahead of last year. It should be noted that there was little change until legislation was introduced in both Houses of Congress to suspend MJFN. At this time I think it would be premature to judge the results for the year but. Mr. President. my sense. just from talking to Members of this body who have themselves expressed concern about emigration cases involving Romanian persons. there have been a number of persons released. or the promise of such persons being released. even in the last few days. in preparation for the debate of this amendment and following the passage of a similar amendment in the House of Representatives. Mr. President. I want to note in passing that to be absolutely dead level fair about this. that the United States has some share of responsibility for the decrease in emigration from Romania to the United States. because of certain legal barriers which we have imposed. I note that in passing. But I think the overwhelming preponderance of responsibility for the decline in emigration remains the blame of the Romanian Government because of its refusal to abide by one of the most basic of all human rights. the right of a person to leave a country if he or she wishes to do so. Mr. President. let me quote briefly from the description of Romanlass emigration policy as outlined in the State Departments "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" for 1987: Official policy continues to oppose emigration for any purpose but family reunification. Those who seek to leave Romania continue to face harassment designed to dissuade them and others who might be considering permanent departure. Successful application take between 1 and 5 years before exit approval is granted. The Government refuses to allow some Romanians to apply for emigration passports at all. Mr. President. the evidence of this. the litany of harassment. of threats of arrest. of temporary arrest. of temporary exile. goes on and on and on.