HELSINKI FINAL ACT: SOVIET IMPLEMENTATION (Hansard, 14 February 1985)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

During the six month period to 31st December 1984, implementation by the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries of their commitments under the Helsinki Final Act showed little significant change. There were a few positive developments in individual countries, but generally, and in the Soviet Union in particular, the situation remained unsatisfactory. Emigration from the Soviet Union dropped to its lowest level since the signing of the Final Act. There were however welcome developments on a small number of personal and family reunification cases, where individuals were granted exit visas to leave the Soviet union.

SECURITY IN EUROPE PRINCIPLES GUIDING RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTICIPATING STATES CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES AND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SECURITY AND DISARMAMENT (BASKET I)

The Soviet performance in the field of human rights remained poor throughout the period under review. Acts in violation of Principle VII concerned with "Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief" were regularly reported, with much attention focussed on various forms of religious persecution, particularly of members of unregistered sects. An orthodox believer, Vladimir Poresh, was given an additional sentence of three years' hard labour at the end of 1984. He was apparently the first sentenced prisoner of conscience to be tried under repressive new (1983) legislation punishing those who "maliciously disobeyed" the penal authorities.

A higher level of officially inspired anti-semitic propaganda was matched by a marked increase in the number of Jewish activists tried and sentenced for a variety of alleged criminal offences. Human rights monitors, other religious groups and peace activists were also subject to continuing pressures, which in a number of cases led to arrest and imprisonment. There were reports that some of the accused sustained physical injuries whilst awaiting trial. There was also further evidence of psychiatric abuse.

Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union declined further, only 175 people being permitted to emigrate in the last quarter of 1984. The total number of Jews to transit Vienna in 1984 was only 900—the lowest figure since large-scale emigration began in 1970. Soviet spokesmen have suggested that this is because the process of family reunification is virtually complete.

The Soviet authorities gave no indication of any change in their harsh approach even towards the better known individual cases. Mrs. Elena Bonner, wife of 378WA Academician Adrei Sakharov, who had been arrested in May, was convicted on 17th August of Anti-Soviet slander and sentenced to five years' internal exile. Both Dr. Sakharov and Mrs. Bonner are reportedly living in exile in Gorky. Various attempts were made by the Soviet authorities, e.g. by the provision of film and photographs, to suggest that the couple were alive and well, although their relatives and friends continued to be unable to contact them. Bulgarian compliance with the Helsinki and Madrid provisions showed little change. Pressure on dissidents was maintained and in general implementation of CSCE provisions of human rights gave cause for concern.

In Czechoslovakia, too, there was little change. CSCE implementation remained fundamentally flawed. Basic freedoms continued to be withheld notably through use of "protective supervision" legislation against dissidents. The attitude of Czechoslovak authorities on the question of family reunification, family visits, bi-national marriages and tourism continued to be severely restrictive.

GDR policy on implementation remained essentially unchanged. About 10,000 people were allowed to leave in the period under review, only one third of the total for the first six months of 1984, but nevertheless more than in previous years.

Hungarian compliance with the Helsinki and Madrid provisions on the other hand was relatively satisfactory. During the reporting period, there was no major harassment of dissidents.

In Poland strong pressures were maintained on opposition activists. But under the July amnesty virtually all political prisoners were released. Father Popieluszko's murder drew widespread condemnation. Four Secret Police officers were put on trial for the crime and have now been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.

In Romania, Father Gheorghe Calciu-Rumitreasa, a Romanian Orthodox priest, who has been imprisoned for Trade Union activities, was released from prison in August 1984 but is still effectively under house arrest. In general, Romania continued to pay scant regard to the humanitarian provisions of the Helsinki and Madrid documents during the period under review.

CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY BUILDING MEASURES

Only one major exercise, "Shield 84" held in Czechoslovakia in September was notified. Details contained in the notification were sparse and no observers were invited.

CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ECONOMICS, OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND OF THE ENVIRONMENT (BASKET II)

A marginal improvement in East-West trading relations during the period under review was noticeable, in part attributable to a slight upturn in the economies of Eastern European countries, in part to an improvement in political relations. In general, the procedures for conducting business in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe have remained unchanged and the flow of economic and commercial information limited. There has been some improvement in direct-dial telephone facilities for businessmen in Moscow.

379WA

CO-OPERATION IN HUMANITARIAN AND OTHER FIELDS (BASKET III)

Emigration from Eastern European countries has continued at a generally low level through there has been a slight increase in the numbers permitted to leave Romania and Poland. As noted above the increased rate of emigration from the GDR at the beginning of the year has not been maintained though the numbers leaving are still greater than in previous years. The GDR authorities took an intransigent line over asylum seekers in the Prague Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Emigration from the Soviet Union fell to a new low level. With the exception of Poland and Hungary, the Eastern European countries continued to place restrictions in the way of family visits and reunifications.

Compliance with the information provisions of the Helsinki and Madrid documents by the countries of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe remained generally poor. Jamming of foreign radio transmissions continued except in Hungary and Romania. Existing restrictions on the media and the activities of journalists remained generally unchanged.

CO-OPERATION AND EXCHANGES IN THE FIELD OF CULTURE AND EDUCATION

Although political factors and internal restraints have had their effect on cultural and educational exchanges during the period under review, the improvement in the East-West political climate should permit some increase of exchanges in coming years.