Speech #1000133847

The leaders of the worlds two most powerful nations will convene to sign an agreement on nuclear weapons reduction that will benefit all the Earths inhabitants. I am. however. concerned that the positive nature of this important accomplishment might be allowed to overshadow the great difficulties still to be resolved between our countries. I am referring to the issues of human rights in. and emigration from. the Soviet Union. Congress and the American people have been closely monitoring the progress of reforms in the Soviet Union under General Secretary Gorbachevs policy of glasnost. While we are encouraged by much of what we have seen. there are still many contradictions and unfulfilled promises. Glasnost has sent conflicting and ambiguous signals to both Soviet Jews and the West. While the increase in numbers of Soviet Jews granted permission to emigrate comes as a welcome sign. we are distressed by increasing denials for reasons of secrecy even though many of those persons have not been privy to secret information for 10 years or more. Equally distressing was the January 1. 1987. OVIR declaration limiting emigration to only those with first degree relatives outside of the Soviet Union. We are hopeful that the number of Soviet Jews and others who are granted permission to leave continues to rise. The new Soviet willingness to discuss and recognize the validity of Western concerns is encouraging. Yet promises and numbers well below those of 1979 are not enough. The ultimate test of General Secretary Gorbachevs intentions and resolve lies in the successful enactment of a regularized application procedure which leads to substantial and sustained emigration. Without a standardized emigration procedure their lives. tragically. will continue to be manipulated by the political vagaries of the Soviet Government. The time has come for the Soviet Union to stop treating Jews and others who wish to emigrate as so much foreign policy currency. These refuseniks should be allowed to leave because it is immoral to keep them there against their will. not because it gains the U.S.S.R. trading preferences. That is the problem with people speaking prematurely about new economic arrangements with the Soviet Union.