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

The Latvian Foreign Ministry Sept. 17 asked Russia to increase the number of military inspection visits that would allow Latvia's representatives to attend and see Russia's military and defense objects in accordance with OSCE Vienna document of 1999 to which Russia and Latvia are members, a spokesman said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Vilmars Henins said Latvia has an obligation to receive four inspection visits from other OSCE member countries a year while Russia has to receive six visits and, the quota of visits for this year has already been exhausted. BNS

The Latvian Foreign Ministry Sept. 17 asked Russia to increase the number of military inspection visits that would allow Latvia's representatives to attend and see Russia's military and defense objects in accordance with OSCE Vienna document of 1999 to which Russia and Latvia are members, a spokesman said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Vilmars Henins said Latvia has an obligation to receive four inspection visits from other OSCE member countries a year while Russia has to receive six visits and, the quota of visits for this year has already been exhausted. BNS

A foreign-funded project seeking to facilitate the naturalization process in Latvia and offering free Latvian language teaching to 2,000 non-citizens was presented in Riga on Wednesday with the Latvian prime minister, justice minister and foreign ambassadors in attendance. The project, titled Fast track Latvian language learning Program For Promotion of Naturalization in Latvia, will teach the state language to non-Latvians to make it easier for them to obtain Latvian citizenship. Two thousand non-citizens will study Latvian language under the project, completing the course after a period of three months up to one year, depending on their skills and knowledge. The presented program differs from other teaching programs mainly in that it is one of the first to be based on the principles outlines in the national integration program. A pilot project of the new program was run last year with 85 percent of trainees passing the naturalization test. OSCE mission to Latvia head, Peter Semneby, speaking at the presentation, said "there are no special problems with obtaining a citizenship in Latvia ... the program seeks to solve the key problem preventing people from getting the citizenship -- it will teach them the language." The project costs are estimated at 216,000 US dollars. The US, Swedish and Norwegian governments contributed financially to the project conceived by the Naturalization Board in cooperation with UNDP and the OSCE mission in Latvia.

A foreign-funded project seeking to facilitate the naturalization process in Latvia and offering free Latvian language teaching to 2,000 non-citizens was presented in Riga on Wednesday with the Latvian prime minister, justice minister and foreign ambassadors in attendance. The project, titled Fast track Latvian language learning Program For Promotion of Naturalization in Latvia, will teach the state language to non-Latvians to make it easier for them to obtain Latvian citizenship. Two thousand non-citizens will study Latvian language under the project, completing the course after a period of three months up to one year, depending on their skills and knowledge. The presented program differs from other teaching programs mainly in that it is one of the first to be based on the principles outlines in the national integration program. A pilot project of the new program was run last year with 85 percent of trainees passing the naturalization test. OSCE mission to Latvia head, Peter Semneby, speaking at the presentation, said "there are no special problems with obtaining a citizenship in Latvia ... the program seeks to solve the key problem preventing people from getting the citizenship -- it will teach them the language." The project costs are estimated at 216,000 US dollars. The US, Swedish and Norwegian governments contributed financially to the project conceived by the Naturalization Board in cooperation with UNDP and the OSCE mission in Latvia. BNS, Diena, Neatkariga, Latvijas Vestnesis, Panorama Latvii, Vesti Segodnya, Chas

From Sept 20 to 21 the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) High Commissioner on national minority issues, Rolf Ekeus, will be visiting in Latvia in order to discuss social integration issues, reported the Foreign Ministry. The guest will have meetings with Latvian President, Saeima Speaker, Prime Minister, and heads of the Naturalization Board and State Language Center.

From Sept 20 to 21 the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) High Commissioner on national minority issues, Rolf Ekeus, will be visiting in Latvia in order to discuss social integration issues, reported the Foreign Ministry. The guest will have meetings with Latvian President, Saeima Speaker, Prime Minister, and heads of the Naturalization Board and State Language Center. Neatkariga

Latvia's Vieda publishers, notorious for organizing two expressly nationalistic contests, has sent the second letter to the European Union's enlargement commissioner, Guenter Verheugen, describing at length the need for decolonization and alleged ethnic conflict in Latvia. In this letter Vieda also informed the EU commissioner about "the colonists' deep hatred and contempt for the Latvian people," reported the publishing company.

Latvia's Vieda publishers, notorious for organizing two expressly nationalistic contests, has sent the second letter to the European Union's enlargement commissioner, Guenter Verheugen, describing at length the need for decolonization and alleged ethnic conflict in Latvia. In this letter Vieda also informed the EU commissioner about "the colonists' deep hatred and contempt for the Latvian people," reported the publishing company. BNS, Planorama Latvii,

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins will attend the 3rd annual Baltic Development Forum to be held from Sept. 23 to 25 in St.Petersburg, Russia. Berzins will join representatives from other Baltic Sea states for a discussion of ways to promote economic development in the region after the admission of Baltic states and Poland to the European Union (EU), reported a foreign advisor to the Latvian premier.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins will attend the 3rd annual Baltic Development Forum to be held from Sept. 23 to 25 in St.Petersburg, Russia. Berzins will join representatives from other Baltic Sea states for a discussion of ways to promote economic development in the region after the admission of Baltic states and Poland to the European Union (EU), reported a foreign advisor to the Latvian premier. BNS

Russian Federation has moved one of its landmarks 150 m into Latvian territory at the place where Latvian, Estonian and Russian borders join. Russia has admitted its mistake asking Latvia “not to pay any attention to it”. Chief of Latvian borderguards General Dabolins said that Latvia had no right to move because it was not a property of Latvia. This issue will be discussed at the end of October when is planned a meeting of heads of Latvian and Russian borderguards.

Russian Federation has moved one of its landmarks 150 m into Latvian territory at the place where Latvian, Estonian and Russian borders join. Russia has admitted its mistake asking Latvia not to pay any attention to it. Chief of Latvian borderguards General Dabolins said that Latvia had no right to move because it was not a property of Latvia. This issue will be discussed at the end of October when is planned a meeting of heads of Latvian and Russian borderguards. Neatkariga, Respublika,

Yesterday the new Moldovian Minister of Foreign Affairs N.Dudeu arrived to Latvia on a working visit. At the meeting with Latvian President V.Vike-Freiberga, both officials discussed Latvian and Moldovian political and economic current events, possibilities of increasing mutual cooperation. The Minister expressed interest of Moldova to learn Latvian experience of integration in European and other international institutions as well as establishing a harmonized society. N.Dudeu met also with the Saeima Speaker J.Straume.

Neatkariga M.Antonevics in

M.Antonevics in Lauku Avize writes that the leader of left wing radical movement Equality T.Zhdanok and persons who share her opinions in broadcasting company LTV 2 have managed to receive 20 700 LVL for a TV show 2+2 that concentrates on integration issues. When asked about this financing the Head of CoE Information Center in Riga U.Krastins did not know about it. It turned out that Ms.Zhdanok received this money directly from CoE program Building up faithfulness in society. CoE people had asked for an opinion of U.Krastins about this show but it did not have any specific impact on the decision. Mr. Krastins had not seen this particular show but another show prepared by Ms. Zhdanok he found boring and without any political interest in the content. Lauku Avize

M.Antonevics also writes about the conference on Framework Convention on national minorities and states that for a long time it has become a political instrument which some political forces and mass media are not ashamed to use in their interests. Unfortunately people who are considered to be great national minorities specialists in Latvia do not understand it or pretend not to see it

M.Antonevics also writes about the conference on Framework Convention on national minorities and states that for a long time it has become a political instrument which some political forces and mass media are not ashamed to use in their interests. Unfortunately people who are considered to be great national minorities specialists in Latvia do not understand it or pretend not to see it. Lauku Avize

Over 100 participants from 20 countries of Europe will gather in Riga Sep. 24-29 to join XI conference of Europe's education leaders' forum and get familiar with Latvia's education system.

Over 100 participants from 20 countries of Europe will gather in Riga Sep. 24-29 to join XI conference of Europe's education leaders' forum and get familiar with Latvia's education system. BNS