Romania was criticized heavily and repeatedly for denying even the most basic rights to its citizens. Even the Soviet Union joined in criticizing the announcement that the Romanians had begun construction of a barbed wire fence along its borders with Hungary. Outstanding Soviet family reunification cases were raised. as was the denial of selfdetermination to the Baltic peoples. Czechoslovakia was criticized for harassing. detaining. and imprisoning human rights activists. however. the criticism apparently fell upon deaf ears as we have learned today that Frantisek Starek. a Czechoslovak underground publisher was sentenced to a 2/2year jail term for his alleged dissident activities. The United States was criticized as well. in particular for denying visas to official Soviet trade union members and for not ratifying the International Covenants on Human Rights. The above actions by the signatory States typify how far we have come. yet what distance remains in obtaining full implementation of the provisions of these documents. In Paris. there was also an indepth discussion of the human dimension mechanism described in the Vienna Concluding Document. which provides for continuing dialog on individual cases or broader human rights issues between East and West.
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family reunification visas