Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

Press Report

The Law on the Election of Local Government Bodies adopted at the first meeting of the Saema winter session met criticize both on the part of voters and present local authorities. The Jelgava City Hall deputies addressed an open letter to the leaders of all Saema fractions expressing their concern about the fact that from the very start non-citizens had been deprived of their active suffrage while in its second reading the Law limits the access of citizens to passive suffrage. According to Mr. Edvin Kide, the leader of the "Sasksna Latvijai" fraction, his fraction has been persistently suggesting to grant active suffrage to all permanent residents who had been residing in the country for five years and more. This would also reduce the current social tension since most of the residents are more interested in the affairs managed by their self-government bodies than in the politics on a higher level. As for the demands for the command of the state language they are considered by Mr. Kide to be too high and do not allow Russian-speaking citizens to run for posts in local government bodies.

The Law on the Election of Local Government Bodies adopted at the first meeting of the Saema winter session met criticize both on the part of voters and present local authorities. The Jelgava City Hall deputies addressed an open letter to the leaders of all Saema fractions expressing their concern about the fact that from the very start non-citizens had been deprived of their active suffrage while in its second reading the Law limits the access of citizens to passive suffrage. According to Mr. Edvin Kide, the leader of the "Sasksna Latvijai" fraction, his fraction has been persistently suggesting to grant active suffrage to all permanent residents who had been residing in the country for five years and more. This would also reduce the current social tension since most of the residents are more interested in the affairs managed by their self-government bodies than in the politics on a higher level. As for the demands for the command of the state language they are considered by Mr. Kide to be too high and do not allow Russian-speaking citizens to run for posts in local government bodies. Russky Putj

Martins Virsis, the head of the Latvian delegation to the talks on troops withdrawal, outlined the most difficult problems both parties had to face at the recent talks in his interview for "Diena". He said that the problem of social security for retired servicemen and the problem of payment for the Skrunde radar remained unsolved. Mr. Virsis says that no connection should be set between these two problems. According to Mr.Virsis retired servicemen having permanent "propiska" and permanently residing in the country should enjoy all the rights of permanent residents and may apply for citizenship in compliance with the legislation in force. Most of the problems are associated with the servicemen having been retired during last two years. While speaking about the Western participation in the process of negotiations with Russia he noted that the Skrunde process should be monitored by CSCE and probably other international bodies. He also pointed out that current attitude of the West towards Latvia could be more well-defined should there be a ratified agreement with Russia. 

Martins Virsis, the head of the Latvian delegation to the talks on troops withdrawal, outlined the most difficult problems both parties had to face at the recent talks in his interview for "Diena". He said that the problem of social security for retired servicemen and the problem of payment for the Skrunde radar remained unsolved. Mr. Virsis says that no connection should be set between these two problems. According to Mr.Virsis retired servicemen having permanent "propiska" and permanently residing in the country should enjoy all the rights of permanent residents and may apply for citizenship in compliance with the legislation in force. Most of the problems are associated with the servicemen having been retired during last two years. While speaking about the Western participation in the process of negotiations with Russia he noted that the Skrunde process should be monitored by CSCE and probably other international bodies. He also pointed out that current attitude of the West towards Latvia could be more well-defined should there be a ratified agreement with Russia.Diena