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

Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will be participating in the opening of a new border crossing on Latvia's eastern border with Russia on August 8. The opening ceremony of the Aisgarsa border point of is also expected to be participated by the parliament's Defense and Internal commission chairman Dzintars Kudums, Minister of Interior Mareks Seglins, chief of the Latvian border guards Gunars Dabolins and other officials of the Interior Ministry and border guard veterans.

Latvia's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga will be participating in the opening of a new border crossing on Latvia's eastern border with Russia on August 8. The opening ceremony of the Aisgarsa border point of is also expected to be participated by the parliament's Defense and Internal commission chairman Dzintars Kudums, Minister of Interior Mareks Seglins, chief of the Latvian border guards Gunars Dabolins and other officials of the Interior Ministry and border guard veterans. BNS

National Radio and TV Council decided to stop for one day broadcasting of radio station Radio Daugavai in Daugavpils. The reason is given non-compliance of broadcasts to the adopted conception. Broadcasting will be stopped on August 10. When analyzing broadcasts of one week in May the Council found that the station did not observe the conception on news and informative broadcasts.

National Radio and TV Council decided to stop for one day broadcasting of radio station Radio Daugavai in Daugavpils. The reason is given non-compliance of broadcasts to the adopted conception. Broadcasting will be stopped on August 10. When analyzing broadcasts of one week in May the Council found that the station did not observe the conception on news and informative broadcasts. Diena

Giving as the reason wrong information entered in software program, Russian Councilor in Latvia ordered the representatives of Travel Company Irbe to take out Russian visa from Latvian journalist A.Klimovics’ passport. A.Klimovics had been refused to receive a Russian visa already three times, and Russian MFA gave as the reason Klimovics’ articles that “misreflected” the situation in Chechnya.

Giving as the reason wrong information entered in software program, Russian Councilor in Latvia ordered the representatives of Travel Company Irbe to take out Russian visa from Latvian journalist A.Klimovics passport. A.Klimovics had been refused to receive a Russian visa already three times, and Russian MFA gave as the reason Klimovics articles that misreflected the situation in Chechnya. Diena

Latvian citizen Aivars Smans considers a possibility to address the International Court for help because he thinks that third Secretary of Latvian Embassy in Ukraine J.Lobzova has exceeded her authority wen forbidding a relative of Smans, citizen of Ukraine V.Dudjak to enter Latvia for one year. In the answer, given by MFA Consular Department there is given no clear explanation of such an action. This incident took place this summer in the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine during which J.Lobzova without any explanation called V.Dudjak a representative of criminal circles and after a short time put a stamp in his passport forbidding him to enter Latvia for one year.

Latvian citizen Aivars Smans considers a possibility to address the International Court for help because he thinks that third Secretary of Latvian Embassy in Ukraine J.Lobzova has exceeded her authority wen forbidding a relative of Smans, citizen of Ukraine V.Dudjak to enter Latvia for one year. In the answer, given by MFA Consular Department there is given no clear explanation of such an action. This incident took place this summer in the Latvian Embassy in Ukraine during which J.Lobzova without any explanation called V.Dudjak a representative of criminal circles and after a short time put a stamp in his passport forbidding him to enter Latvia for one year. Neatkariga

The new Polish Ambassador to Latvia T.Fishbah has arrived to Latvia. Soon he will go on an official visit to Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga to hand in his letter of accreditation.

The new Polish Ambassador to Latvia T.Fishbah has arrived to Latvia. Soon he will go on an official visit to Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga to hand in his letter of accreditation. Rigas Balss

Next Saturday Union of National Soldiers will held in Smarde Forest the third get-together of formed SS legionnaires. Invitations to state officials have been sent out but no responses are received.

Next Saturday Union of National Soldiers will held in Smarde Forest the third get-together of formed SS legionnaires. Invitations to state officials have been sent out but no responses are received. Chas

On Sunday, August 5 in Mezaparks a concert-meeting will take place to support education in the Russian language. The organizers of the meeting expect about 3000 people. The initiator of this event is youth movement “Equality” and their aim is to protect education in the Russian language, They will try to unite all youngsters because, according to opinion polls, not only Russians but also 70% of Latvians stand for the principle that students have to study in their mother tongue.

On Sunday, August 5 in Mezaparks a concert-meeting will take place to support education in the Russian language. The organizers of the meeting expect about 3000 people. The initiator of this event is youth movement Equality and their aim is to protect education in the Russian language, They will try to unite all youngsters because, according to opinion polls, not only Russians but also 70% of Latvians stand for the principle that students have to study in their mother tongue. Vesti Segodnya

N.Kabanov writes about the meeting of CIS states leaders in Sochi, describing it as one of the most important international events and states that MFAs of the Baltic States could and should have sent their representatives there. But CIS has been already excluded form international policy concept of Latvia and other Baltic States. The main priority for Latvian diplomats is EU and NATO. And they keep their eyes closed towards CIS, to be more exact; somebody closes their eyes on purpose.

N.Kabanov writes about the meeting of CIS states leaders in Sochi, describing it as one of the most important international events and states that MFAs of the Baltic States could and should have sent their representatives there. But CIS has been already excluded form international policy concept of Latvia and other Baltic States. The main priority for Latvian diplomats is EU and NATO. And they keep their eyes closed towards CIS, to be more exact; somebody closes their eyes on purpose. Vesti Segodnya

Newspaper

Newspaper Respublika interviewed several well-known persons about their most important events during last three years. One of the interviewed was the Head of Naturalization Board E.Aldermane. She thinks that the most important event was adoption of amendments to the law on Citizenship, the next important event is that the government adopted Public Integration Program and within this program an information center was opened at the Naturalization Board. The most important event of this year is governments two decisions that eased life for the potential citizens of Latvia – equalizing the centralized Latvian language exam at schools with naturalization test and decreasing the amount of the naturalization fee. And an important fact for E.Aldermane herself was receiving the award of Sorsos Foundation Latvia For Public Harmony.

A web-site mocking and offending Latvia's history, culture and language has been found in Russian at www.lat.narod.ru. The anonymous authors of this web-site warn users that its content is mainly meant for Latvia's Russian-speaking population, nevertheless, the page also has many explanations meant for residents of Russia. For years high Russian officials have been accusing Latvia of bad attitudes towards its Russian speaking population, claiming that their rights to acquire Latvian citizenship, speak the Russian language and acquire education in their mother tongue are restricted. Latvia, 30 percent of its 2.4 million strong population being ethnic Russians, claims these accusations as ungrounded.

A web-site mocking and offending Latvia's history, culture and language has been found in Russian at www.lat.narod.ru. The anonymous authors of this web-site warn users that its content is mainly meant for Latvia's Russian-speaking population, nevertheless, the page also has many explanations meant for residents of Russia. For years high Russian officials have been accusing Latvia of bad attitudes towards its Russian speaking population, claiming that their rights to acquire Latvian citizenship, speak the Russian language and acquire education in their mother tongue are restricted. Latvia, 30 percent of its 2.4 million strong population being ethnic Russians, claims these accusations as ungrounded. BNS