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

Press Report

Integration is implemented because of the lack of political will. Reproaches published in the progress report that Latvian language courses are not ensured and state fee is too high are admitted to be true. The work at the integration programme is at halt now and it proves that Latvian politicians lack political will. The Deputy Head of the Naturalisation Board agrees that poor Latvian language skills impede the tempo of naturalisation, however “probably next year 2000 applicants will be given to learn Latvian for free, as on the initiative of the Naturalisation Board, the OSCE and UNDP could allocate USD 200 000 for this purpose”. In regard to combination of the examination in Latvian in secondary school with examination during naturalisation process, the Ministry of Science and Education has prepared conceptual report for the Saeima.

Integration is implemented because of the lack of political will. Reproaches published in the progress report that Latvian language courses are not ensured and state fee is too high are admitted to be true. The work at the integration programme is at halt now and it proves that Latvian politicians lack political will. The Deputy Head of the Naturalisation Board agrees that poor Latvian language skills impede the tempo of naturalisation, however probably next year 2000 applicants will be given to learn Latvian for free, as on the initiative of the Naturalisation Board, the OSCE and UNDP could allocate USD 200 000 for this purpose. In regard to combination of the examination in Latvian in secondary school with examination during naturalisation process, the Ministry of Science and Education has prepared conceptual report for the Saeima. Diena

Vesti Segodnja publishes the comments of some politicians. The faction FHRUL leader J.Jurkans says: “Our civil officers do not understand diplomatic language and have strange habit not to read documents to the end. The same regards to our President when she in her interview for BBC said that we received positive evaluation for the State Language law from the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel – seems that the President has not read the document to the end”.

Vesti Segodnja publishes the comments of some politicians. The faction FHRUL leader J.Jurkans says: Our civil officers do not understand diplomatic language and have strange habit not to read documents to the end. The same regards to our President when she in her interview for BBC said that we received positive evaluation for the State Language law from the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel – seems that the President has not read the document to the end.

The Saeima passed the amendments to the Administrative Violation Code regarding the State Language Law for their revision in deputy committees.

The Saeima passed the amendments to the Administrative Violation Code regarding the State Language Law for their revision in deputy committees. Neatkariga

Chas has the following comments on the issue – “The draft of amendments has rather interesting annotation attached. It says: “As in the new State Language Law, following the recommendations of OSCE experts, it is determined that also persons working in private business spheres have to know and use the state language, the respective amendments in the Administrative Violation Code have to be implemented”. So our national radical politicians do not have any relation to this issue, it turns out that the OSCE is the one which persisted on regulating the usage of the language in the private sphere”.

Chas has the following comments on the issue – The draft of amendments has rather interesting annotation attached. It says: As in the new State Language Law, following the recommendations of OSCE experts, it is determined that also persons working in private business spheres have to know and use the state language, the respective amendments in the Administrative Violation Code have to be implemented. So our national radical politicians do not have any relation to this issue, it turns out that the OSCE is the one which persisted on regulating the usage of the language in the private sphere.

On Thursday Saeima gave its conceptual approval to the draft of law which foresees to replace the previous system where a person had to have registered place of residence in his/her passport with declaration of the place of residence.

On Thursday Saeima gave its conceptual approval to the draft of law which foresees to replace the previous system where a person had to have registered place of residence in his/her passport with declaration of the place of residence. Diena

Criticism towards the presence of Latvia’s Minister of Defence G.V.Kristovskis at the ceremony of the unveiling the statue honouring soldiers who died while serving in a Latvian unit of the German Army appears also in German press.

Criticism towards the presence of Latvias Minister of Defence G.V.Kristovskis at the ceremony of the unveiling the statue honouring soldiers who died while serving in a Latvian unit of the German Army appears also in German press. Diena

The President V.Vike-Freiberga gave an interview for the TV of Russia and it will be in the air on the Latvian TV on 17 November. The interview was the initiative of Russia’s TV.

The President V.Vike-Freiberga gave an interview for the TV of Russia and it will be in the air on the Latvian TV on 17 November. The interview was the initiative of Russias TV. Neatkariga.

In her interview for Latvian Radio the President V.Vike-Freiberga says “Latvia has legally founded justification to ask compensation from Russia. This decision is the responsibility of politicians”.

In her interview for Latvian Radio the President V.Vike-Freiberga says Latvia has legally founded justification to ask compensation from Russia. This decision is the responsibility of politicians. Rigas Balss.

This Saturday Europe Movement in Latvia invites all interested people to participate in the seminar “Latvian Citizenship – Your First Step to Citizenship of the European Union”.

This Saturday Europe Movement in Latvia invites all interested people to participate in the seminar Latvian Citizenship – Your First Step to Citizenship of the European Union. Chas asks couple questions to EML chairman A.Dimants regarding the link between citizenship issues in Latvia and the European Union. Chas