Speech #1010068508

Mr. President. the present changes taking place in the Soviet Union bring renewed hope for peace and feedom throughout the world. But as long as the Soviet Union continues to deny Soviet Jews and other religious groups the basic freedom to emigrate and persecutes them for their religious beliefs. improved relations between our countries will remain an illusion rather than a reality. If the Soviet Union is committed to working for world peace. let them begin at home by promulgating emigration laws and allowing those individuals who so desire the right to emigrate. The plight of the Lurie family demonstrates the desperate situation facing all Soviet refuseniks. Emmanuel Lurie. his wife Judith. her mother Rika. and the rest of their family. first applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union in February 1979. Their desire was to join family already located in Israel. In January 1980. they were granted permission to leave and given exit visas. In preparation to leave the Soviet Union. the Luries purchased airline tickets and packed their belongings. Emmanuel. an organic chemist. gave up his job. and the children were removed from school. Five days before their departure. however. Emmanuel was informed by the Office of Visas and Registration that his familys exit visas. except for Rikas. had been canceled for reasons of state security connected with Emmanuels Job at a chemical plant where he worked from 196164. Judiths mother. Rika. was told that her family would be reallocated visas shortly and was warned that if she reJected this opportunity to leave she would not be given another chance. Rika. who had lost her husband in a labor camp during the Stalin era. and who had suffered constant harrassment from the KGB throughout her life. decided to accept the visa. In December 1988. Emmanuel Lurie sent a request to the Ministry of Chemical Industry as to the length of his state secrecy period. The Ministry replied that his secrecy classification would remain an obstacle to his emigration requests indefinitely. Since their first refusal in 1980. the Lurie family have been ardent fighters for human rights for Soviet Jews. Judith helped found "Jewish Women Against Refusal." and Emmanuel is active in Jewish scientific seminars. This continued refusal to allow individuals to emigrate from the Soviet Union contravenes all international agreements on human rights. The Soviet Union must strive to abide by its international responsibilities in this area and begin to match their words with their deeds. Promises to codify emigration regulations remain unfulfilled. and the Soviet Union continues to deny its individuals the basic freedom to emigrate as they choose. How is the United States to make treaties with the Soviet Union. to trust and work toward greater world peace and freedom with the Soviet Union. when the Soviet Union denies its own citizens these fundamental human rights? How successful can glasnost be without furthering the human rights of its own citizens? The continued denial of the right of free emigration for many Soviet Jewish citizens illustrates the serious problems that exist in the Soviet Union. We call upon the Soviet leadership to show us their commitment to glasnost and perestroika by improving their record on human rights and granting families such as those of Emmanuel Lurie their fundamental right to choose how and where they will .live.*