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

Riga department of Latvia's Way (LC) in conjunction with the party's faction at the Riga City Council will hold a joint emergency session today in order to decide on demanding resignation of the Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars, LETA was told by the LC press secretary Dace Gulbe. The LC faction at the Riga City Council believes that Bojars' action in accepting placing the monument to Peter I in the night-time was absolutely unacceptable and also points towards totalitarianism. The People's Party and For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK have also said they are indignant at setting up the monument to the Russian Czar in downtown Riga.

Riga department of Latvia's Way (LC) in conjunction with the party's faction at the Riga City Council will hold a joint emergency session today in order to decide on demanding resignation of the Riga Mayor Gundars Bojars, LETA was told by the LC press secretary Dace Gulbe. The LC faction at the Riga City Council believes that Bojars' action in accepting placing the monument to Peter I in the night-time was absolutely unacceptable and also points towards totalitarianism. The People's Party and For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK have also said they are indignant at setting up the monument to the Russian Czar in downtown Riga. LETA

Riga Mayor G.Bojars in an interview to the newspaper Panorama Latvii stated that the capital of Latvia Riga needed its own foreign policy. Prime Minister A.Berzins did not find this statement to be acceptable because there should be only one foreign policy – the one realised by the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state institutions. Activities of Social Democrats prove about the change in their foreign policy orientation. In his interview the mayor said that Riga foreign policy would not contradict the national foreign policy, but it should be directed towards the interests of Riga City.

Riga Mayor G.Bojars in an interview to the newspaper Panorama Latvii stated that the capital of Latvia Riga needed its own foreign policy. Prime Minister A.Berzins did not find this statement to be acceptable because there should be only one foreign policy – the one realised by the President, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state institutions. Activities of Social Democrats prove about the change in their foreign policy orientation. In his interview the mayor said that Riga foreign policy would not contradict the national foreign policy, but it should be directed towards the interests of Riga City. Diena,

More and more residents of Latvia interest about a possibility to repatriate to Russia. Reasons are different but the basic one is their wish to return to the place where they feel at home. Yesterday one repatriate received a financial support for his travel expenses. So far there is no local institution that would officially deal with emigrants. Repatriation Center is working only with Latvians and citizens of Latvia who want to return to Latvia. But with those who want to return to Russia is dealing Russian Federation Migration Service. As representative of this Service T.Slichkova told

More and more residents of Latvia interest about a possibility to repatriate to Russia. Reasons are different but the basic one is their wish to return to the place where they feel at home. Yesterday one repatriate received a financial support for his travel expenses. So far there is no local institution that would officially deal with emigrants. Repatriation Center is working only with Latvians and citizens of Latvia who want to return to Latvia. But with those who want to return to Russia is dealing Russian Federation Migration Service. As representative of this Service T.Slichkova told Rigas Balss journalist that annually about 1.5 to 2 000 people move to Russia. This year even more people have come to their office to get information about possibilities to emigrate. Their number has increased for 1/3. Lauku Avize

On August 17 Prime Minister A.Berzins met with Governor of St.Petersburg V.Jakovlev who arrived with a delegation to Riga 800 festivity. Using this Governor’s visit to Riga Russian President V.Putin sent his greeting to the Latvian government and expresses his pleasant memories about hiss meeting with Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga. During the meeting with the Governor A.Berzins pointed out that good neighbourly relations with Russia was one of Latvian foreign policy priorities and said that Latvia remembered August 24, 1991 when Russia was one the first countries to recognise independence of Latvia. A.Berzins pointed out that it was a good cornerstone to build good relations between those two countries.

On August 17 Prime Minister A.Berzins met with Governor of St.Petersburg V.Jakovlev who arrived with a delegation to Riga 800 festivity. Using this Governors visit to Riga Russian President V.Putin sent his greeting to the Latvian government and expresses his pleasant memories about hiss meeting with Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga. During the meeting with the Governor A.Berzins pointed out that good neighbourly relations with Russia was one of Latvian foreign policy priorities and said that Latvia remembered August 24, 1991 when Russia was one the first countries to recognise independence of Latvia. A.Berzins pointed out that it was a good cornerstone to build good relations between those two countries. Latvijas Vestnesis, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Panorama Latvii,

Russian speaking newspaper

Russian speaking newspaper Vesti Segodnya writes that during the celebration of Riga 800 festivity the authorities had managed to ensure the absolute minimum of the Russian language in the city with 60% of Russian population. And the President was charged with the honorary task to rewrite the history of Riga. During the official reception at the House of Blackheads V.Vike-Freiberga gave a speech full of appraising German – Baltic relations. When speaking about the influence of Baltic Germans the President did not mention the cruel baptising of local people and 700 years of slavery.

Author of a Latvian language textbook for 2nd class Dz.Paegle gives in the texts of this book a definition of KGB officer “USSR KGB officer – spy, interrogator, torturer. Several texts of this book are describing deportations of Latvians. Several Latvian teachers have expressed their concern that such descriptions of deportation atrocities could influence sensitive children and it could endanger integration process – children could associate the term “KGB officer” with all Russians.

Author of a Latvian language textbook for 2nd class Dz.Paegle gives in the texts of this book a definition of KGB officer USSR KGB officer – spy, interrogator, torturer. Several texts of this book are describing deportations of Latvians. Several Latvian teachers have expressed their concern that such descriptions of deportation atrocities could influence sensitive children and it could endanger integration process – children could associate the term KGB officer with all Russians. Vesti Segodnya, Respublika