Speech #1000151449

Mr. President. today we begin the 12th year of the Congressional Call to Conscience for Soviet Jews. and I am proud to Join my friend Senator DIXON in cochairing the Call to Conscience for this year. Since its inception in 1976. the Congressional Call to Conscience has been one of the best mechanisms for Members of Congress to speak out on behalf of Soviet Jews seeking freedom of religion and the right to emigrate. Sponsored by the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. the purpose of the vigil is to demonstrate our continued. bipartisan concern for human rights in the Soviet Union and to express support for individuals and families wishing to emigrate to the free world through weekly statements on the Senate floor. This morning my good friend. the Senator from Illinois. and I circulated a Dear Colleague stating the purpose of the vigil and requesting the participation of each Senator for 1 week throughout 1988. This is a particularly important time to renew our support of Soviets who are persecuted by their own Government. While the recent summit agreement has shown the Soviet Union willing to take positive steps to peace. they have not shown the same willingness to extend basic human freedoms to their own citizens. The freedom to emigrate is one such freedom which is consistently denied citizens of the Soviet Union. We are told by the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews that 8.155 Soviet Jews were granted exit visas last year. While that number is significantly higher than 914 granted in 1986. much of that can be explained by glasnost. In 1987 we saw the continuation of glasnost. a period not unlike the dttente of the 1970s when the Soviets also sought important arms reduction agreements and economic cooperation. Yet during detente of the 1970s. exit visas were granted to double and triple the number of Soviet Jews than were allowed last year. In addition. the 8.155 figure pales in comparison to the number of Soviet Jews that have been continually denied the right to emigrate despite repeated application. Jews who apply for exit visas and are refusedthe refusniksare subject to being dismissed from Jobs. having their children expelled from schools and universities. and being harassed by the police and KGB. It is estimated that between 20.000 and 60.000 longterm Refuseniks remain in the Soviet Union. Some have suffered for more than 15 years. Despite Soviet willingness to let some wellknown Refuseniks emigrate last year. thousands of lesser known people remain. Some are denied visas on the pretext that they or members of their families possess national secrets. Families are often separated by a cruel practice whereby only some members are permitted to leave. The Soviets claim that the "Jewish problem" has been solved. since so few are applying to leave.