Mr. President. Tuesdays Washington Post contained an article entitled. "Soviet Cites Fears of Mass Emigration." The article outlines the premise that the reason the enactment of free emigration legislation is languishing in the Supreme Soviet is a fear among conservatives and others that a free emigration bill would result in a mass exodus from the Soviet Union. While the conservatives may be rightafter all. the Soviet economy is a shambles. and political infighting continues to destabilize the countrythey must realize that the failure to enact a free emigration law which is consistent with international human rights agreements to which the Soviet Union has signed. remains the primary basis on which further credits and possible mostfavorednation status will be considered. Let us be clear about our goal. The JacksonVanik amendments to the 1974 Trade Act linked trade status to emigration. Other serious issues worthy of consideration do not supersede that basic linkage of free emigration to an Improved trade status. Let us also be clear that a free emigration law that has a number of strings attached to it. as is the case with the latest draft of the legislation. is not acceptable. The latest draft of the free emigration legislation makes a mockery of the principle of free emigration as defined in international human rights agreements. For example. consideration Is being given In the Russian Republic to charging emigrants for their education. Under one scenario. an emigrant with an advanced degree would have to pay 3.000 rubles as reimbursement for the education he or she received. An emigrant already must pay up to 700 rubles in order to emigrate. The recent monetary reform policy implemented In the Soviet Union further complicates the process. As my colleagues will recall.
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