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.

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

LATVIAN MEDIA REVIEW

Russia has once again criticised Latvia for what it calls 'criminal prosecution of World War Two veterans." Russian Foreign Ministry official representative Alexander Yakovenko said "judging by reports from Riga, Latvian authorities have stepped up legal prosecution of anti-Fascist veterans, causing quite grounded concern." It was emphasised that "relevant cases were sent to courts in remote towns on the excuse of Riga Regional Court being overloaded with work."

Russia has once again criticised Latvia for what it calls 'criminal prosecution of World War Two veterans." Russian Foreign Ministry official representative Alexander Yakovenko said "judging by reports from Riga, Latvian authorities have stepped up legal prosecution of anti-Fascist veterans, causing quite grounded concern." It was emphasised that "relevant cases were sent to courts in remote towns on the excuse of Riga Regional Court being overloaded with work." BNS, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnya

Latvia categorically rejects the regular reproaches by Russia over criminal prosecution of WW II veterans in Latvia and regards it as interference in internal affairs of a foreign country, Latvian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. "Such activities of the neighbouring country create an impression that Russia at times gets carried away in its efforts to comment on issues that fall in domestic jurisdiction of another sovereign country," Vilmars Henins said.

Latvia categorically rejects the regular reproaches by Russia over criminal prosecution of WW II veterans in Latvia and regards it as interference in internal affairs of a foreign country, Latvian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. "Such activities of the neighbouring country create an impression that Russia at times gets carried away in its efforts to comment on issues that fall in domestic jurisdiction of another sovereign country," Vilmars Henins said. BNS, Neatkariga,

Latvian and Russian border guards Monday, in the presence of senior border guard officials of the two countries, began dismantling of Russian-Estonian border sign no. 1 that was placed 70 meters into the territory of Latvia due to a mistake. The dismantling could take all day, Latvian border guard spokeswoman Dace Udre said.

Latvian and Russian border guards Monday, in the presence of senior border guard officials of the two countries, began dismantling of Russian-Estonian border sign no. 1 that was placed 70 meters into the territory of Latvia due to a mistake. The dismantling could take all day, Latvian border guard spokeswoman Dace Udre said. BNS

Heads of three Baltic states will meet in Latvian capital Riga on Tuesday to discuss foreign policy matters vital for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia such as the US-Baltic Charter, integration into NATO and the European Union (EU), reported the Latvian president's spokeswoman. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus agreed on the meeting on the phone Sunday, and Estonian leader Arnold Ruutel has also given his consent.

Heads of three Baltic states will meet in Latvian capital Riga on Tuesday to discuss foreign policy matters vital for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia such as the US-Baltic Charter, integration into NATO and the European Union (EU), reported the Latvian president's spokeswoman. Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus agreed on the meeting on the phone Sunday, and Estonian leader Arnold Ruutel has also given his consent. BNS, Lauku Avize, Latvijas Vestnesis, Telegraf, Lauku Avize

The Riga City Council's competition committee has decided to select Tatjana Zhdanok, co-chairwoman of the party Equal Rights, representative from For Human Rights In A United Latvia (PCTVL) for the vacant post of the head of the Riga Housing Privatisation Commission, LETA was confirmed by the council's information and PR department.

The Riga City Council's competition committee has decided to select Tatjana Zhdanok, co-chairwoman of the party Equal Rights, representative from For Human Rights In A United Latvia (PCTVL) for the vacant post of the head of the Riga Housing Privatisation Commission, LETA was confirmed by the council's information and PR department. LETA, Diena, Neatkariga

The naturalisation process in Latvia should be viewed as positive, as the interest of the people in obtaining citizenship and in the integration processes has increased considerably, Eizenija Aldermane, the head of the Naturalisation Administration, told a press conference at the Rezekne City Council today. "It is not our goal to make non-citizens go through the naturalisation process at any cost. Our goal is to give as extensive and comprehensible information as possible about the need to obtain citizenship and about the integration process," stressed Aldermane. Aldermane commended informational campaigns organised by the Naturalisation Administration, citizenship days "Latvia – My Homeland" held at schools, and also the competition "On the Way to Civic Society". The Naturalisation Administration also plans to set up information stands in Rezekne in the near future.

The naturalisation process in Latvia should be viewed as positive, as the interest of the people in obtaining citizenship and in the integration processes has increased considerably, Eizenija Aldermane, the head of the Naturalisation Administration, told a press conference at the Rezekne City Council today. "It is not our goal to make non-citizens go through the naturalisation process at any cost. Our goal is to give as extensive and comprehensible information as possible about the need to obtain citizenship and about the integration process," stressed Aldermane. Aldermane commended informational campaigns organised by the Naturalisation Administration, citizenship days "Latvia – My Homeland" held at schools, and also the competition "On the Way to Civic Society". The Naturalisation Administration also plans to set up information stands in Rezekne in the near future. LETA

V.Krustins in the newspaper

V.Krustins in the newspaper Lauku Avize states that suddenly the President and Prime Minister have started to take care of the state language. At the Presidents castle they summon commissions, now they will establish a new super-commission, Prime Minister is ready to allocate money for it because he knows that a fed hen does not make noise. But now it may not make nose, otherwise it will be uncomfortable for the Saeima to abolish the state language proficiency requirement for deputy candidates. Mr.Krustins reminds that the President came forth with her proposal to abolish this norm as undemocratic and restricting human rights one just a day before her leaving for a vocation to Tobago. Everything seemed so clear and the authority of the President so high to waste any time, and officials and lawyers were immediately summoned to the castle to draw up the wish of the President. But people got worried, and the Saeima was not ready to fulfil Presidents wish. Latvian language Institute Director J.Valdmanis acknowledged that most likely even the language experts did not want to know the real language situation. Now all the errors have been fixed, all well-known persons had a heart-to-heart talk, President makes up a super-commission, language specialists are offered money and Prof.Valdmanis calms people down saying, we may pay so high price for state security. It means that instead of Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who knows six languages, there could be elected a president could not know or even has no wish to know the Latvian language.

Head of NATO expert group NATO Deputy Secretary General for Political Issues Guenter Altenburg answering to journalists’ questions said that one of very important preconditions for Latvia to be accepted to NATO was to have be a stable situation here, no contradictions between Latvians and Russian minority.

Head of NATO expert group NATO Deputy Secretary General for Political Issues Guenter Altenburg answering to journalists questions said that one of very important preconditions for Latvia to be accepted to NATO was to have be a stable situation here, no contradictions between Latvians and Russian minority. Lauku Avize

Latvijas Vestnesis informs that during a meeting with the Prime Minister Mr. Altenburg prised the consequent public integration processes. For more than ten years no incidents based on national belonging had occured in Latvia– a discussion takes place, and it is a feature of democracy.

Latvijas Vestnesis informs that during a meeting with the Prime Minister Mr. Altenburg prised the consequent public integration processes. For more than ten years no incidents based on national belonging had occured in Latvia– a discussion takes place, and it is a feature of democracy.

Last December Mayor of Venspils A.Lembergs sent a letter to the President expressing his concern with the education reform in Russian-speaking schools. Journalists of Venspils TV company asked the Mayor to explain his position on what he answered that as far as he had studied this issue he saw a serious problem with the transition to the tuition in the Latvian language. Not all schools and students would be ready for it. It takes much more time to implement this – even for Venspils, not speaking about Riga and Daugavpils.

Last December Mayor of Venspils A.Lembergs sent a letter to the President expressing his concern with the education reform in Russian-speaking schools. Journalists of Venspils TV company asked the Mayor to explain his position on what he answered that as far as he had studied this issue he saw a serious problem with the transition to the tuition in the Latvian language. Not all schools and students would be ready for it. It takes much more time to implement this – even for Venspils, not speaking about Riga and Daugavpils. Telegraf

Newspaper

Newspaper Chas is sarcastic about the adopted text of the Government commissions report to UN on the situation in Latvia. The document is not a convention, but some parts of the description as the journalist puts it slightly deviates from the existing reality and is a vivid sample of the existing double standard. It turns out that after restoration on independence the government of Latvia started implementing policy of unity aimed at harmonising the versatile cultural and religious traditions of different groups of residents.

Riga City Council deputy G.Kotov comments the statement made after the meeting of the President with the Minister of Education and Science K.Greiskalns that the problem of Russian-speaking schools would cease to exist in two years. He does not think so. Everything would depend on the outcome of the next election. And it is well known that there are no sufficient resources and staff to implement this reform. Mr.Kotov also states that the reform contradicts international law, e.g. UN convention of 1960 On fighting discrimination in the field of education and European Charter on regional languages or languages of minorities.

Riga City Council deputy G.Kotov comments the statement made after the meeting of the President with the Minister of Education and Science K.Greiskalns that the problem of Russian-speaking schools would cease to exist in two years. He does not think so. Everything would depend on the outcome of the next election. And it is well known that there are no sufficient resources and staff to implement this reform. Mr.Kotov also states that the reform contradicts international law, e.g. UN convention of 1960 On fighting discrimination in the field of education and European Charter on regional languages or languages of minorities.

The new Head of Programs at Latvian TV assured that they were not going to decrease the number of broadcasts in the Russian language.

The new Head of Programs at Latvian TV assured that they were not going to decrease the number of broadcasts in the Russian language. Vesti Segodnya

At the end of the last year the newspaper

At the end of the last year the newspaper Panorama Latvii organised a hot line with Russian Ambassador to Latvia I.Studennikov. Now the newspaper publishes the questions and Ambassadors answers. Questions were about social welfare issues, benefits for war veterans, moving to Russia, exchanging of Russian passports, Russian citizenship, etc.