Yet the Soviet Union has not kept its word on this matter. During his interview on NBC television yesterday. General Secretary Gorbachev was asked about emigration and family reunification. His answer was. and I quote: Family reunificationwe believe that to be a problem. and we shall do our best to have those problems resolved. * * * I think that right now we have among those who have not received permission only those who cannot leave because of state security reasons. There are no other reasons. and we will continue to act in that way. Gorbachevs statement holds out a reason for hope and also reiterates positions which are simply wrong. His promise to do his best to have those problems resolved gives me hope that the dividedspouse cases and blockedmarriage cases will finally be solved. His reference to security reasons for denying permission to emigrate raises. however. the same old discredited barrier to open borders and free movement of peoples Soviet authorities have relied upon since they first addressed the issue. Conspicuously. General Secretary Gorbachevs statement in Paris that access to state secrets would only be a barrier to emigration for 10 years has not been followed in practice by Soviet officials. Many people who last had access to state secrets more than 10 years ago are still denied permission to emigrate on state security grounds. We too readily act as though we accept this assertion of state security as a reasonable basis for denial of permission to emigrate. It is neither reasonable nor legitimate. because Soviet law and practice is contrary to generally accepted international standards. The point is that under international agreements freely entered into by the Soviet Union. the right to leave ones country is a fundamental human right.
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family reunification Family reunificationwe emigration emigrate