Forget the Lever, Send Romania a Message

In the next few days, President Reagan may decide to continue most-favored-nation trade status to Romania for another year. Or, he will take a strong stand for human rights by carrying out the House recommendation to temporarily suspend the status which provides vital U.S. trade concessions to one of the most austere economies in Europe.

During recent consideration of the trade bill, the House agreed to lift Romania’s most-favored-nation status for six months. The intent of that action is to put the government of President Nicolae Ceausescu on notice that as a condition of continued trade benefits Congress expects to see genuine improvements regarding a wide range of human rights abuses, including religious restrictions, labor and emigration problems and discrimination against ethnic minorities.

Our own State Department has written about the Romanian government’s restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly and religion. Helsinki Watch called Romania one of the most “egregious” offenders of human rights in Eastern Europe.

Even in his letter extending most-favored-nation status last year, President Reagan acknowledged the Romanian government’s restrictions on religious liberties.

The government has made particular efforts to restrict freedom of religion. Recently, a dozen churches of different denominations have been razed for alleged violations of building codes. In 1985, the government confiscated 20,000 Bibles donated by the Hungarian Reformed Church and pulped them for toilet paper. Religious activists have been jailed, beaten and tortured.

Romanian authorities have attempted to manipulate the churches through control of the licensing of pastors. By denying official recognition to certain congregations, the government makes these churches illegal and subject to fines and other harassment.

This Eastern Bloc nation has disregarded U.S. concerns by openly supporting international terrorism.

Between 1979 and 1983, Romania sold more than $500-million worth of arms to Iraq, Libya and North Korea. The government supplies military aid to the Palestine Liberation Organization and reportedly permits Arab terrorists to train near Bucharest.

Most-favored-nation trade benefits often are touted as a “lever” to be used to push the Ceausescu regime toward supporting U.S. interests and improving human rights. But the lever is rusting in place for lack of use.

In the past, as the annual most-favored-nation status renewal approached, the Romanian government made token concessions on emigration and the release of certain prisoners of conscience. However, once the spotlight is off, the harsh policies resume. Despite 12 years of most-favored-nation status little real improvement in human rights has occurred.

The yearly renewal process has become an opportunity for cynical manipulation of the United States by Ceausescu, rather than an opportunity for the United States to influence human rights conditions in his country. The congressional vote on Romania’s status offers President Reagan an occasion to put teeth into this year’s review.

A short-term suspension of Romania’s favored status would send a clear message to Ceausescu that the United States opposes his restrictive human rights policies. This would be consistent with action taken by the U.S. trade representative in January when Generalized System of Preferences benefits were revoked for Romanian goods due to its lack of internationally recognized workers’ rights.

Most-favored-nation status has helped Romania rack up a $588 million trade surplus with the United States in 1986. It was the fifth year in a row that the United States ran a trade deficit with that nation. Consequently, suspending these concessions would provide the best leverage we have to promote improvements in matters such as religious rights and the treatment of ethnic minorities.