asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to raise, within the context of the Conference on Security Co-operation in Europe with the authorities of the Soviet Union, both in Ireland and Moscow, the continued persecutions, on religious and cultural grounds, of Jewish people who are Soviet citizens.
Written Answers. - Persecution of Soviet Union Jews.
17.
The plight of the Jewish community in the Soviet Union is a matter of continuing concern to the Irish Government. We believe that their treatment by the Soviet authorities is contrary to the human rights provisions of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) and other international commitments entered into by the Soviet Union.
In my view, the most effective framework to voice the Government's concern about the record of the Soviet Union in this area is provided by meetings held within the context of follow-up to the CSCE. One such meeting opened in Vienna on 4 November 1986 and is still in session. Its purpose is to review the extent to which the 35 signatory States have put into effect the provisions of the Final Act and to develop new measures to improve and strengthen implementation.
The Irish delegation at Vienna has already availed of the opportunity to express concern at breaches of these provisions by the participating States. They have drawn particular attention to public and parliamentary concern in Ireland about the failure of the Soviet Union to permit Soviet Jews full freedom to pursue Jewish religious and cultural activities or to exercise their right to emigrate. The delegation will continue to press for full implementation of all of the CSCE commitments by the participating States, and, in particular, the provisions for human rights and fundamental freedoms and for human contacts.