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

Dutch prime minister on Monday in Riga in a meeting with Latvian president affirmed full support of the Netherlands to active involvement of Latvia in the European Union membership talks and believes the EU internal reform can not be an obstacle for the enlargement process, a spokeswoman said.

Dutch prime minister on Monday in Riga in a meeting with Latvian president affirmed full support of the Netherlands to active involvement of Latvia in the European Union membership talks and believes the EU internal reform can not be an obstacle for the enlargement process, a spokeswoman said. BNS, Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis

The Baltic states parliaments European affairs committee heads Monday in a meeting in Riga discussed holding referendums in the Baltic states on accession to the European Union, proposing them be held either separately in each country or simultaneously in all the three states.

The Baltic states parliaments European affairs committee heads Monday in a meeting in Riga discussed holding referendums in the Baltic states on accession to the European Union, proposing them be held either separately in each country or simultaneously in all the three states. BNS

Missionaries wanting to arrive in Latvia have problems with receiving visas and they can only arrive upon invitation of local religious organisations, stated a report on the freedom of religion in Latvia made by the US department of state. The report states that Visa regulations effective since July 1999 require religious workers to present either an ordination certificate or evidence of religious education that corresponds to a Latvian bachelor's degree in theology. The visa application process still is cumbersome. Nonetheless, the Government co-operated to resolve several difficult visa cases in favour of missionary workers. Difficulties in this area diminished and Citizenship and Migration Department officials have worked to ease the situation.

Missionaries wanting to arrive in Latvia have problems with receiving visas and they can only arrive upon invitation of local religious organisations, stated a report on the freedom of religion in Latvia made by the US department of state. The report states that Visa regulations effective since July 1999 require religious workers to present either an ordination certificate or evidence of religious education that corresponds to a Latvian bachelor's degree in theology. The visa application process still is cumbersome. Nonetheless, the Government co-operated to resolve several difficult visa cases in favour of missionary workers. Difficulties in this area diminished and Citizenship and Migration Department officials have worked to ease the situation. BNS

Diena writes that this report contained no essential reproaches and a statements that the Constitution of Latvia ensured religious freedom. There are still some bureaucratic problems concerning minority religions.

Diena writes that this report contained no essential reproaches and a statements that the Constitution of Latvia ensured religious freedom. There are still some bureaucratic problems concerning minority religions.

Austrian Parliament President Heinz Fischer is heading a delegation that continues its official visit to Latvia today. Today Fischer is set to meet with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.

LETA, Diena, Latvijas Vestnesis, Chas

Newspaper Lauku Avize investigates who stands behind the activities of I.Stalnoy and the youth organisation Solidarnost. These yougsters are lavishly supported by the union Equality, some Saeima MPs, e.g. J.Sokolskis. And oil company Lukoil transferred for Solidarnosts last summer event 150 LVL. The journalist asked Latvian Security police why they did not prevent this anti-Latvian buffooning. The answer was that Police had not found anything illegal in their activities.

The leader of Solidarnost, who was a Latvian by nationality and his former namewas E.Zalitis, turned into a Russian I.Stalnoy. Lauku Avize interviewed Cesis Regional Register Office head about the process how a person may change his ethnicity record and name.

Vechernyaya Riga informs that the Municipal Police drew up an administrative record on the organisers of the Solidarnost picket at the Saeima building for exceeding the time limit given for the picket.

Latvian Prime Minister A.Berzins said, answering to the statement of Social Democrats leader J.Bojars directed against the things achieved by the Latvian State, government, and President in the field of ensuring basic human rights, that it not only misled Latvian society but also created a wrong impression about our country in the world. J.Bojars should know that since 1995 in Latvia has been operating a human rights ombudsman – National Human Rights Office – and that the quality of its activities was evaluated by a group of independent international experts April this year. NHRO was one of the first in the Eastern Europe that received such evaluation. And activities of J.Bojars may cause concern that a signal is being sent aiming to burden Latvias co-operation with its partners and prevent explaining for Russia Latvias achievements in the human rights field. Latvijas Vestnesis

Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins gave a speech on Latvia’s foreign policy at the NGOs forum. He pointed out that activities on many NGOs were one of evidences that in Latvia existed both so called middle class, civic society and people able to express their opinion and to defend their interests. Speaking about Latvian – Russian relation the Minister said Latvia’s return to Europe meant that Latvia was establishing new relations with Russia. And the phantoms of the past need to be given up. And the fact that Russia due to its internal problems did not sign and ratify bilateral border agreement yet, did not prevent both from mutually advantageous co-operation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins gave a speech on Latvias foreign policy at the NGOs forum. He pointed out that activities on many NGOs were one of evidences that in Latvia existed both so called middle class, civic society and people able to express their opinion and to defend their interests. Speaking about Latvian – Russian relation the Minister said Latvias return to Europe meant that Latvia was establishing new relations with Russia. And the phantoms of the past need to be given up. And the fact that Russia due to its internal problems did not sign and ratify bilateral border agreement yet, did not prevent both from mutually advantageous co-operation. Latvijas Vestnesis

Diena analyses LSDSP members’ possible exit from the party. The newspaper says that after the party’s chairman was re-elected as the leader of LSDSP, his opponents, headed by the LSDSP Saeima faction’s head Egils Baldzens, do not make haste in quitting the party but will continue work until there is no new dispute between leaders of the party and the faction. Such a dispute can be caused by the LSDSP new board’s attempts to force the faction to sign an undesirable agreement with For Human Rights In A United Latvia (PCTVL). Bojars told Diena however that this proposal will not be reviewed that soon, as a new board for the party must be elected first, which will then thoroughly evaluate PCTVL’s proposal and only back co-operation over those issues that are not counter to the party’s program. Ousting Bojars’ major opponent, Imants Burvis, from the party no longer bothers Bojars, for, since Burvis was not elected to the party’s council, he can now be removed by his regional organisation.

Diena analyses LSDSP members possible exit from the party. The newspaper says that after the partys chairman was re-elected as the leader of LSDSP, his opponents, headed by the LSDSP Saeima factions head Egils Baldzens, do not make haste in quitting the party but will continue work until there is no new dispute between leaders of the party and the faction. Such a dispute can be caused by the LSDSP new boards attempts to force the faction to sign an undesirable agreement with For Human Rights In A United Latvia (PCTVL). Bojars told Diena however that this proposal will not be reviewed that soon, as a new board for the party must be elected first, which will then thoroughly evaluate PCTVLs proposal and only back co-operation over those issues that are not counter to the partys program. Ousting Bojars major opponent, Imants Burvis, from the party no longer bothers Bojars, for, since Burvis was not elected to the partys council, he can now be removed by his regional organisation. LETA

A.Gilyman, Riga City Council deputy writes about the situation of Latvian Social Democrats. For long time they tried to get power but every time when they came near it the ruling coalition through them out. And they had only one possibility remaining -to start co-operating with For Human Rights in United Latvia. At his moment a new situation occurred on the Latvian political stage – in the capital all power went into the hands of people who did not depend on the ruling oligarchy.

A.Gilyman, Riga City Council deputy writes about the situation of Latvian Social Democrats. For long time they tried to get power but every time when they came near it the ruling coalition through them out. And they had only one possibility remaining -to start co-operating with For Human Rights in United Latvia. At his moment a new situation occurred on the Latvian political stage – in the capital all power went into the hands of people who did not depend on the ruling oligarchy. Vesti Segodnya

Commenting the draft amendments proposed by J.Bojars, L.Fedoseyev states that these amendments change the Constitution so that nothing much remains from the previous one. If Latvia became a presidential republic, it would mean that the majority could ignore the minority; and in Latvia with its existing ethnic problems it would mean that non-Latvians would be ousted from political processes.

Commenting the draft amendments proposed by J.Bojars, L.Fedoseyev states that these amendments change the Constitution so that nothing much remains from the previous one. If Latvia became a presidential republic, it would mean that the majority could ignore the minority; and in Latvia with its existing ethnic problems it would mean that non-Latvians would be ousted from political processes. Chas

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga repaced her former representative in the Society Integration Foundation Council O.Tipainis with the entrepreneur S.Bukingholc.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga repaced her former representative in the Society Integration Foundation Council O.Tipainis with the entrepreneur S.Bukingholc. Chas

A.Gurin starts his article with the statement made by the DHoM of the OSCE Mission to Latvia N.Brennan that Latvia would have to abolish the norms requesting local government and Saeima deputy candidates to know the state language on the highest level. But then he turns to the aspects of Economics, comparing the situation in Latvia and Russia. In Russia authorities have understood that tourism brings money. In Sankt-Petersburg they plan to introduce signboards in the English language on the central streets, but in Latvia authorities do not want any Russian language thus preventing tourists from Russia coming here.

A.Gurin starts his article with the statement made by the DHoM of the OSCE Mission to Latvia N.Brennan that Latvia would have to abolish the norms requesting local government and Saeima deputy candidates to know the state language on the highest level. But then he turns to the aspects of Economics, comparing the situation in Latvia and Russia. In Russia authorities have understood that tourism brings money. In Sankt-Petersburg they plan to introduce signboards in the English language on the central streets, but in Latvia authorities do not want any Russian language thus preventing tourists from Russia coming here. Panorama Latvii