Mr. Speaker. both resolutions call for the President to issue a proclamation reasserting the American commitment to full implementation of the human rights and humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki accords. This resolution also requests that the President continue his efforts to achieve the release of all political prisoners of the Soviet Union. urges a significant increase in Soviet emigration and the resolution of all family reunification cases. and the cessation of radio transmission jamming. On August 1. 1975. representatives from 35 countries joined together in Helsinki to sign the Helsinki accords. This agreement covers every aspect of EastWest relations including military security. scientific and cultural exchanges. trade and economic cooperation and. most importantly. human rights. Unfortunately. many signatory nations have not adhered to the human rights standards of this agreement. Most Easternbloc countries restrict religious freedom. deny their citizens the right to emigrate. and imprison human rights activists. Of the 644.000 Soviet Jews who have requested to emigrate since 1968. only 267.000 have been released. The House and the Senate have already stated our unhappiness with the Romanian Governments continual violations of the Helsinki accords by voting to suspend mostfavorednation status to Romania for a period of 6 months. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki accords.
Keywords matched
family reunification emigrate emigration