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

Latvian Parliament Speaker Janis Straume and Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Jose Matos de Gama discussed Latvian and Portuguese bilateral relations and Latvia's movement to the European Union. The officials agreed that between the two countries has developed good co-operation, the parliament press office reported.

Latvian Parliament Speaker Janis Straume and Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Jose Matos de Gama discussed Latvian and Portuguese bilateral relations and Latvia's movement to the European Union. The officials agreed that between the two countries has developed good co-operation, the parliament press office reported. BNS, Panorama Latvii

The Latvian capital city mayor will Wednesday leave for Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart and is also expected to meet with the Russian State Duma chairman during this visit. Riga City mayor Gundars Bojars told BNS he would make the two-day visit at the invitation of Moscow mayor, Jury Luzhkov, to present festivities marking Riga's 800th anniversary and expected to culminate in August.

The Latvian capital city mayor will Wednesday leave for Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart and is also expected to meet with the Russian State Duma chairman during this visit. Riga City mayor Gundars Bojars told BNS he would make the two-day visit at the invitation of Moscow mayor, Jury Luzhkov, to present festivities marking Riga's 800th anniversary and expected to culminate in August. BNS, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Neatkariga

A local level soldiers representative or Ombudsman shall be selected by June 20 in all units of National Armed Forces. It is stated in a decree of the Commander in Chief. In the NAF Commander’s Office has been established a position for supervising this institution, and Mayor M.Liberts is selected for this post.

A local level soldiers representative or Ombudsman shall be selected by June 20 in all units of National Armed Forces. It is stated in a decree of the Commander in Chief. In the NAF Commanders Office has been established a position for supervising this institution, and Mayor M.Liberts is selected for this post. Diena

Constitution of Latvia Satversme will celebrate its 80th anniversary but lately there is more and more discussion about the fact that it does not reflect fully the classical principles of division of power, especially analysing the legal status of the State President and pointing out that Latvia needs a popularly elected President. Dr. iur. J.Lazdins writes about this situation and states that so far nobody has found out what kind of President people want – elected by the Saeima or popularly.

Constitution of Latvia Satversme will celebrate its 80th anniversary but lately there is more and more discussion about the fact that it does not reflect fully the classical principles of division of power, especially analysing the legal status of the State President and pointing out that Latvia needs a popularly elected President. Dr. iur. J.Lazdins writes about this situation and states that so far nobody has found out what kind of President people want – elected by the Saeima or popularly. Neatkariga

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga Tuesday met Austrian government's commissioner for the European Union enlargement issues to discuss the need to launch a broad campaign to inform public about the current and future EU member countries, president's press office reported. The officials also discussed the situation in the Balkans and the Baltic Sea region. Speaking about Cupertino between the Baltic Sea countries the president noted that Latvia is interested in closer Cupertino with Russia's Europe region, including Kaliningrad region.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga Tuesday met Austrian government's commissioner for the European Union enlargement issues to discuss the need to launch a broad campaign to inform public about the current and future EU member countries, president's press office reported. The officials also discussed the situation in the Balkans and the Baltic Sea region. Speaking about Cupertino between the Baltic Sea countries the president noted that Latvia is interested in closer Cupertino with Russia's Europe region, including Kaliningrad region. BNS

Newspaper

Newspaper Jauna Avize found very strange the governments position when it did not allow the Human Rights Office move to the building of the Constitutional Court. So far Human Rights Office spent 51% of its yearly budget for rent (paying 7.12 Ls for mË›). But in the Court building they would have to pay 1.5 Ls for mË›. As these rooms needed renovation, Office Director O.Bruveris asked for 75 276 Ls. Human Rights Office informed the government about their wish at the beginning of this year, and the Chairman of the Constitutional Court A.Endzins also would be glad to have such neighbours. Ministers rejected this request stating that they did not have resources for the renovation.

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers decided that 9th graders of Russian speaking schools would be able to receive a language certification basing on the results of their graduation exams. There is a hope that also graduates of secondary schools of this year could get this certification. It is up to the Ministry of Education and Science to decide. Newspaper

Yesterday the Cabinet of Ministers decided that 9th graders of Russian speaking schools would be able to receive a language certification basing on the results of their graduation exams. There is a hope that also graduates of secondary schools of this year could get this certification. It is up to the Ministry of Education and Science to decide. Newspaper Chas comments this news saying that it came like a shock for 9th graders because different from previous years new regulations stipulate to issue certificates to students basing only on the results of centralised exams or starting from School year 2003/2004 (highest category 2b) the Ministry of Education and Science proposed to amend the regulations allowing the present 9th graders to receive the Latvian language proficiency certificates. Yesterday the government adopted these amendments but the exam took place a week ago. Now the question is whether the law will have a retroactive effect. Chas, Panorama Latvii

A journalist for the newspaper

A journalist for the newspaper Vesti Segodnya visited the Deputy mayor of Riga City Council S.Dolgopolov and saw that Mr. Dolgopolov was having frequent telephone conversations with the State Language Centre officials. And the catalyst for these conversations was an unofficial press conference for journalists of Russian speaking press organised by Committee Head S.Zaletajev. It was held in the Russian language upon a mutual agreement. Representative of Peoples Party Krastins sent a letter to the State Language Centre stating that some deputies did not have the necessary state language knowledge thus triggering all this process.

The number of non-citizens having submitted in May 2001 an application for naturalisation decreased to 569. According to the statistical data of the Naturalisation Board it is the smallest number since October 1998. And one more interesting figure - last month 18% of all non-citizens who took the state language test failed while during the whole 2000 this figure was 13%.

The number of non-citizens having submitted in May 2001 an application for naturalisation decreased to 569. According to the statistical data of the Naturalisation Board it is the smallest number since October 1998. And one more interesting figure - last month 18% of all non-citizens who took the state language test failed while during the whole 2000 this figure was 13%. Vesti Segodnya