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

After joining the European Union, Latvia will have to join the Dublin convention, which regulates migration policies, however, the EU may grant a certain transitional period for implementation of the convention in Latvia, claims the IOM. Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Brunson McKinley, told BNS while in Latvia that the transitional period may be granted because the weight of migration from the east will affect Latvia significantly, being the outer border of the EU. "As Latvia has a border with the former USSR, the Dublin convention will bind Latvia with unproportionate weight," said McKinley, therefore, the EU may decide that the convention will not take immediate effect in Latvia. "Europe will help Latvia, if it takes on a large amount of the immigrant burden."

After joining the European Union, Latvia will have to join the Dublin convention, which regulates migration policies, however, the EU may grant a certain transitional period for implementation of the convention in Latvia, claims the IOM. Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Brunson McKinley, told BNS while in Latvia that the transitional period may be granted because the weight of migration from the east will affect Latvia significantly, being the outer border of the EU. "As Latvia has a border with the former USSR, the Dublin convention will bind Latvia with unproportionate weight," said McKinley, therefore, the EU may decide that the convention will not take immediate effect in Latvia. "Europe will help Latvia, if it takes on a large amount of the immigrant burden." BNS, Diena, Vesti Segodnya

After accession of Latvia to the European the country's non-citizens will not have the opportunity to enjoy the same rights as citizens but the Union will guarantee them the fundamental human rights, EU enlargement commissioner said. Guenter Verheugen's remark came in a news conference Friday following a meeting with several Latvian officials. The commissioner noted though this is a "highly complicated question" and the EU legal services are already analyzing the situation but the answers so far have not been unanimous. Verheugen added the Latvian government should not amend the current citizenship legislation and its implementation. He voiced conviction the EU will work to promote social integration.

After accession of Latvia to the European the country's non-citizens will not have the opportunity to enjoy the same rights as citizens but the Union will guarantee them the fundamental human rights, EU enlargement commissioner said. Guenter Verheugen's remark came in a news conference Friday following a meeting with several Latvian officials. The commissioner noted though this is a "highly complicated question" and the EU legal services are already analyzing the situation but the answers so far have not been unanimous. Verheugen added the Latvian government should not amend the current citizenship legislation and its implementation. He voiced conviction the EU will work to promote social integration. BNS, Respublika

During an unofficial lunch between the European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen and Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the two also touched upon the recent controversial Vieda publishing house essay contest. Latvia's president said after the meeting that Verheugen had said: "displays of extremism are unfortunately not unknown of elsewhere in Europe...but the government's task is to clearly and categorically state that such displays are unacceptable," if they are turned against other nations or religions. President Vike-Freiberga went on to say "I haven't had time myself to look into the results of the competition... therefore I can't give a serious professional assessment," nevertheless, she has "been given the impression that the [competition] is unbalanced in its approach... treated too emotionally," and that the book is in some places "undoubtedly prejudiced against other nations."

During an unofficial lunch between the European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen and Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, the two also touched upon the recent controversial Vieda publishing house essay contest. Latvia's president said after the meeting that Verheugen had said: "displays of extremism are unfortunately not unknown of elsewhere in Europe...but the government's task is to clearly and categorically state that such displays are unacceptable," if they are turned against other nations or religions. President Vike-Freiberga went on to say "I haven't had time myself to look into the results of the competition... therefore I can't give a serious professional assessment," nevertheless, she has "been given the impression that the [competition] is unbalanced in its approach... treated too emotionally," and that the book is in some places "undoubtedly prejudiced against other nations." BNS, Panorama Latvii

The Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins has asked the country's top security office and the security police to assess the claims of civil war threats made by scandalous Vieda publishing director and parliament member, social democrat Janis Leja, in a letter handed to the EU enlargement commissioner currently in Latvia. The Latvian Prime Minister's spokesperson, Arnis Lapins, told BNS the PM's opinion that the claims made in the said letter are either provocative or the result of an inadequate understanding of the processes currently taking place in the country, and has therefore asked the Constitution Protection Office and Security Police to look into the matter. "They are unacceptable, create a threat to the citizen society and discredit the Latvian State," said Lapins.

The Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins has asked the country's top security office and the security police to assess the claims of civil war threats made by scandalous Vieda publishing director and parliament member, social democrat Janis Leja, in a letter handed to the EU enlargement commissioner currently in Latvia. The Latvian Prime Minister's spokesperson, Arnis Lapins, told BNS the PM's opinion that the claims made in the said letter are either provocative or the result of an inadequate understanding of the processes currently taking place in the country, and has therefore asked the Constitution Protection Office and Security Police to look into the matter. "They are unacceptable, create a threat to the citizen society and discredit the Latvian State," said Lapins. BNS

Vieda publishing company, that acquired controversy following a nationalist youth essay contest, and a Social Democrat MP Friday handed a letter to European Union enlargement commissioner, currently on a visit in Latvia, underscoring the need for decolonization of Latvia or repatriation of people of other nationalities. "If decolonization does not proceed fast Latvia is under danger of civil war because colonists in this country are inciters to national hatred, especially the Russian language press. The letter was handed to Commissioner Gunter Verheugen by four students of Latvian Culture Academy during a lecture at Riga Graduate School of Law where the commissioner was delivering a lecture "EU Enlargement -- Common Gain".

Vieda publishing company, that acquired controversy following a nationalist youth essay contest, and a Social Democrat MP Friday handed a letter to European Union enlargement commissioner, currently on a visit in Latvia, underscoring the need for decolonization of Latvia or repatriation of people of other nationalities. "If decolonization does not proceed fast Latvia is under danger of civil war because colonists in this country are inciters to national hatred, especially the Russian language press. The letter was handed to Commissioner Gunter Verheugen by four students of Latvian Culture Academy during a lecture at Riga Graduate School of Law where the commissioner was delivering a lecture "EU Enlargement -- Common Gain". BNS, Diena, Chas, Panorama Latvii, Vesti Segodna, Respublika (23.07)

The OSCE mission in Latvia said the book is a manifestation of bad taste but it should not be regarded as inciting to national hatred. Latvian top national security agency, the Constitution Protection Office, held a similar opinion saying the debate triggered by the book should be seen as diversity of opinions and people can not be punished for that.

The OSCE mission in Latvia said the book is a manifestation of bad taste but it should not be regarded as inciting to national hatred. Latvian top national security agency, the Constitution Protection Office, held a similar opinion saying the debate triggered by the book should be seen as diversity of opinions and people can not be punished for that. BNS

On June 29 Latvia's Foreign Ministry sent the European Commission its annual progress report on Latvia, which is used mainly as a basis for the European Commission's progress report on Latvia. The Foreign Ministry reported that the national progress report has analyzed the country's general process of reforms, the acquisition process of the European Union's legislation (acquis communautaire) and implementation of legislation, analysis of economic indicators and descriptions of the EU accession negotiation chapters. Latvia's 2001 progress report claims that the government's priorities - social integration, public administration, economic and regional policies and anti-corruption - are reflected in planning of the state budget and introduction of EU principles. The report claims that all six parties in parliament "completely support Latvia's integration to the EU. The state continues to carry out political accession criteria, increasing state funding in 2000 and 2001 for Latvian language training, minority education and public information. The report states that this has directly promoted the interest of non-citizens to naturalize. In order to make the naturalization process easier, the fee has been reduced, and a broader range of people are now liable for reductions on the fee. Latvian language final exams at minority schools are also now passed as valid for naturalization.

On June 29 Latvia's Foreign Ministry sent the European Commission its annual progress report on Latvia, which is used mainly as a basis for the European Commission's progress report on Latvia. The Foreign Ministry reported that the national progress report has analyzed the country's general process of reforms, the acquisition process of the European Union's legislation (acquis communautaire) and implementation of legislation, analysis of economic indicators and descriptions of the EU accession negotiation chapters. Latvia's 2001 progress report claims that the government's priorities - social integration, public administration, economic and regional policies and anti-corruption - are reflected in planning of the state budget and introduction of EU principles. The report claims that all six parties in parliament "completely support Latvia's integration to the EU. The state continues to carry out political accession criteria, increasing state funding in 2000 and 2001 for Latvian language training, minority education and public information. The report states that this has directly promoted the interest of non-citizens to naturalize. In order to make the naturalization process easier, the fee has been reduced, and a broader range of people are now liable for reductions on the fee. Latvian language final exams at minority schools are also now passed as valid for naturalization. BNS