Mr. President. this amendment. cosponsored by my distinguished colleague from Hawaii. Senator INouYE. would help ensure the freedom of emigration of citizens of the former Soviet Union The United States is a nation based on the idea of free movement of peoples. Most recently. we expressed this fundamental conviction in the JacksonVanik legislation that tied improved United StatesSoviet relations to Soviet tolerance of emigration. We are now celebrating the success of that historic policythe aliya of Soviet Jews who are settling in their ancient homeland of Israel. Senator INOUYE and I are convinced that U.S. foreign aid is a very effective lever to encourage the improvement of human rights in foreign countries. Specifically. we believe that the JacksonVanik approach can help us avert the rise of fascism and antiSemitism in the Republics of the former Soviet Union. The amendment we are offering today would deny funds appropriated under this bill to former Soviet Republice that deny or unreasonably interfere with the emigration of their citizens. I believe that two or three of the Republics. including Russia. have already repealed their restrictions on emigration. Mr. President. there is no need for any of these Republics to intefere with the free emigration of their citizens. This denial of a fundamental human right was unconscionable at the height of the cold warand it is therefore even less tolerable at the present time. when a truly historic tide of liberty is transforming the whole world. It is the hope of both myself and Mr.
Keywords matched
emigration