§ Human Contacts
§ There have been no significant changes except in the case of Poland. In all Eastern European countries it is difficult and expensive for individuals to obtain the necessary documents for emigration; but older people have, in general, a far greater chance of emigration and travel than young people. After the imposition of martial law in Poland severe restrictions were imposed on foreign travel. In mid-March some relaxation of these measures was introduced in the case of elderly or disabled persons, but the ability of Poles to travel abroad remains severely curtailed by comparison with the situation prevailing before 13 December 1981.
§ Information
§ Information from the West remains strictly controlled in all Eastern European countries. In Poland working conditions for Western journalists have improved somewhat although they remain difficult; extensive censorship, introduced after the imposition of martial law, is still in force; and Western broadcasts in Polish—except Deutsche Welle—are still being jammed. Radio transmissions to Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia by Deutsche Welle and Radio Free Europe have continued to be jammed and since 1 February the Bulgarians have also jammed Voice of America broadcasts. The Soviet Union has continued to jam broadcasts in Russian from Western radio stations.
§ Culture and Education
§ With the exception of Poland, there have been no significant changes in the record of Eastern European countries in these areas. The imposition of marital law in Poland has reduced exchanges in this field with Western countries.