An expert on Eastern Europe told Congressmen yesterday that “Rumania has made no fundamental improvement in emigration since last summer’s public guarantees to American Jewish organizations” and there fore most favored-nation trade status should not be extended to that country for another year.
Opposition to MFN status for Rumania was expressed by Jacob Birnbaum, national director of the Center for Russian and East European Jewry, in testimony before the Trade Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. He contended that the Rumanian authorities have not implemented their promise to the American Jewish organizations that “application forms will be readily available and will be processed expeditiously.” He said that the Center’s latest information showed that there was no simplification of emigration procedures, no cessation of harassment of would be exit applicants and a “continued, controlled drop in emigration to Israel” during 1980. He said the average flow of 60-70 emigrants monthly compared unfavorably with last summer’s foreclose of 150 monthly and 300-400 monthly during 1973-74 when the Rumanians were seeking MFN under the Trade Reform Act as amended by the Jackson-Vanik Amendment.
Birnbaum disagreed with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations which recommended yesterday that MFN status for Rumania be extended for one year despite some persistent problems.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
