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

President Ulmanis in his speech at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly linked Latvia’s security with its ability to integrate “alien” ideas, values, views, and individuals. The integration process should not damage the country’s national identity. Mr Ulmanis pointed at the exceptional situation in Latvia, its native inhabitants constituting only half of the country’s population. He named ethnic, political, and social harmony among basic objectives of Latvia’s policy. Mr Ulmanis pointed out observance of human rights and establishment of a multi-cultural society as the country’s most important goals mentioning in this connection the National Human Rights Programme and the National Human Rights Office. The President singled out the right for access to education as one of the most essential individual rights. He said elementary education became available in nine languages after Latvia had gained independence. Ulmanis promised Latvia would ratify the European Human Rights Convention this year. Bringing Latvia’s legislation in conformance with the Convention requirements would require the abolishment of the capital punishment, said Ulmanis. He promised to declare a moratorium on all capital punishments before the ratification of the Convention. The President mentioned “Latvia’s neighbours claiming Latvia’s policy to contain principles violating human rights”. He recalled the visit of the Parliamentary Assembly Political Committee members to Latvia. International experts could see that “Latvia’s political system guaranteed every inhabitant’s fundamental rights and liberties“. President Ulmanis said Latvia could be a good example of a nation state with “a multi-cultural society and human rights playing a decisive role."

President Ulmanis in his speech at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly linked Latvias security with its ability to integrate alien ideas, values, views, and individuals. The integration process should not damage the countrys national identity. Mr Ulmanis pointed at the exceptional situation in Latvia, its native inhabitants constituting only half of the countrys population. He named ethnic, political, and social harmony among basic objectives of Latvias policy. Mr Ulmanis pointed out observance of human rights and establishment of a multi-cultural society as the countrys most important goals mentioning in this connection the National Human Rights Programme and the National Human Rights Office. The President singled out the right for access to education as one of the most essential individual rights. He said elementary education became available in nine languages after Latvia had gained independence. Ulmanis promised Latvia would ratify the European Human Rights Convention this year. Bringing Latvias legislation in conformance with the Convention requirements would require the abolishment of the capital punishment, said Ulmanis. He promised to declare a moratorium on all capital punishments before the ratification of the Convention. The President mentioned Latvias neighbours claiming Latvias policy to contain principles violating human rights. He recalled the visit of the Parliamentary Assembly Political Committee members to Latvia. International experts could see that Latvias political system guaranteed every inhabitants fundamental rights and liberties. President Ulmanis said Latvia could be a good example of a nation state with a multi-cultural society and human rights playing a decisive role." Neatkariga

Last week the working group of the Presidential Consultative Board for Minority Issues held a meeting with President Ulmanis. The Consultative Board suggests amending the Citizenship Law to allow seventeen thousand ethnic Latvian repatriates and ethnic Livs and twenty thousand ethnic Poles to receive citizenship through extraordinary naturalization. Mr. Ulmanis said he was ready to provide his assistance in decreasing the number of differences between the rights enjoyed by citizens and non-citizens. He admitted he was not aware of the details of the problem and said he was planning to study the issue. Member of the Consultative Board Mr Dozortsev believes the President should address the

Last week the working group of the Presidential Consultative Board for Minority Issues held a meeting with President Ulmanis. The Consultative Board suggests amending the Citizenship Law to allow seventeen thousand ethnic Latvian repatriates and ethnic Livs and twenty thousand ethnic Poles to receive citizenship through extraordinary naturalization. Mr. Ulmanis said he was ready to provide his assistance in decreasing the number of differences between the rights enjoyed by citizens and non-citizens. He admitted he was not aware of the details of the problem and said he was planning to study the issue. Member of the Consultative Board Mr Dozortsev believes the President should address the Saeima specifying his political program. SM

Mr Rayhman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee in a regular report on the human rights situation in the country pointed at most typical problems in the area. He believes a recent decree requiring mandatory registration of foreigners permanently residing in Latvia to be potentially dangerous. The existing regulation allow issuing permanent residence permits only to individuals who had a permanent “propiska” before July 1992 and who have not lost it afterwards. This, according to Rayhman, would allow the CID “to increase the number of expulsion orders issued to foreigners”. The decree on mandatory registration could also affect the fulfilment of Latvia’s agreement with Russia that guarantees retired Russian military “a right to reside in Latvia without any restrictions” (many of them are Russian citizens). SM

Mr Rayhman of the Latvian Human Rights Committee in a regular report on the human rights situation in the country pointed at most typical problems in the area. He believes a recent decree requiring mandatory registration of foreigners permanently residing in Latvia to be potentially dangerous. The existing regulation allow issuing permanent residence permits only to individuals who had a permanent propiska before July 1992 and who have not lost it afterwards. This, according to Rayhman, would allow the CID to increase the number of expulsion orders issued to foreigners. The decree on mandatory registration could also affect the fulfilment of Latvias agreement with Russia that guarantees retired Russian military a right to reside in Latvia without any restrictions (many of them are Russian citizens). SM

Latvijas Cels

deputy Janis Adamsons may leave the party this week. The faction criticised Adamsons for violating faction discipline. deputy Janis Adamsons may leave the party this week. The faction criticised Adamsons for “violating faction discipline.” DienaDiena