I NEWS I Find Out What Everyone Is Talking About ... Come in and celebrate at 4 our new location in '1 Applegate Square CLASSIFIEDS GET RESULTS! New York (JTA) — Congress has begun serious considera- tion of a set of human rights principles which, if adopted, would urge U.S. companies to make a "good faith effort" to decline joint ventures with Soviet firms that engage in human rights violations. The principles have been hailed by human rights ac- tivists, but detractors include both the State Department and many. U.S. companies that are concerned the Slepak Principles will discourage the Soviets' newfound interest in opening up their markets to the West. The Senate postponed ac- tion last week on a bill con- taining the Slepak Principles, named after former refusenik Vladimir Slepak, and refer- red it to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sens. John Heinz, R-Pa., and Dennis DeConcini, D- Ariz., who introduced the bill during debate on the State Department Authorization Bill, received a pledge that the committee will hold a hearing on the principles by Sept. 15. The principles are a seven- point human rights code writ- ten by the Slepak Founda- tion, the Philadelphia-based human rights group founded by Dr. Alexander Slepak, Vladimir's son. The principles target a number of human rights violations said to be practic- ed in the Soviet Union and Baltic states, and include pro- visions that the U.S.-Soviet joint ventures comply with in- ternational standards for oc- cupational safety and en- vironmental protection. Although adherence to the principles would be voluntary, the law would order the State Department to submit a year- ly report to Congress that monitors compliance. The law would not provide for the punishment of those com- panies that do not go along. Human rights organiza- tions and advocacy groups, in- cluding the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, said the Slepak Principles will send a strong message to the Soviets on human rights. Defending the bill, a spokesman for Heinz said Wednesday that "it is impor- tant to bear in mind that Soviet societies have been sporadic in terms of openings and closings. 354-6060 The Slepak Foundation first presented its principles to lawmakers at a meeting in Friday & Saturday, August 18 & 19th Champagne & Hors d'oeuvres will be served Come see it all, from elegant eveningwear to active sportswear Spectacular Trunk Shows by Bettina • Merle • Macho • Detroit's own Gauzling Sizes 14 to 26 Applegate Square Northwestern Hwy. at Inkster Rd. FULL SUMMER & FALL PROGRAMS IN • JAZZ • BALLROOM • TAP REGISTER NOW Pre-School programs also available. Seniors Try Our Friday Tea. Dances. At Danceart or at your facility. 681-4101 50 FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1989 Human Rights Bill Gets Cheers And Jeers 354-4560 George Ohrenstein Jewelers Ltd. • Certified Gemologist • American Gem Society HARVARD ROW MALL Leiser and 11 Mile Rd. 353-3146 DEDIC.ATED TO KNOWLEDGE. ETHICS AND COWMEN PROTECTION Call The Jewish News October 1988, in part as a response to new initiatives by Soviet leader Mikhail Gor- bachev to open up Soviet markets to Western investors, according to Jack Engelhard, communications director for the foundation. Engelhard said the prin- ciples had earned the en- dorsement of the AFL-CIO, the Union of Councils, assorted advocacy organiza- tions representing ethnic and religious groups in the Soviet Union and the Rev. Leon Sullivan of Philadelphia. Sullivan is the author of the Sullivan Principles, an employment code for U.S. businesses active in South America. The code was go 'It is important to bear in mind that Soviet Societies have been sporadic in terms of openings and closings. adopted in 1985 as part of U.S. government efforts to fight apartheid. Like the Sullivan Prin- ciples, the new human rights guidelines have met resistance from American businesses and trade groups, including those that main- tain the code is an unwar- ranted meddling into a corn- pany's private affairs. The companies say that practices codes, export con- trols and economic sanctions should not be used as political tools, and end up hurting the people they are trying to pro- tect. They point out that adherence to the Sullivan Principles failed to under- mine apartheid in South Africa. Not one of the 30 U.S. cor- porations invited agreed to take part in the October 1988 meeting announcing the Slepak principles. Secretary of State James Baker has also testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that with Soviet society appearing to open up, the time is not ripe to press the Soviets on human rights. A State Department representative is again ex- pected to voice the depart- ment's objections next week before the House Foreign Af- fairs subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East. 4.4 41.1 I t". doi •