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

NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson will be in Latvia on February 21 to check up on the country's readiness for NATO membership and discuss Latvia's Membership Action Plan with a number of officials.

NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson will be in Latvia on February 21 to check up on the country's readiness for NATO membership and discuss Latvia's Membership Action Plan with a number of officials. Chas

At the initiative of local students, Naturalization Board’s information booth visited rural Seda on Saturday. Seda is the only town in Northern Vidzeme where Russian speakers are in the majority, and only 630 out of 1,800 residents have Latvian citizenship. It was established in talking with locals that the major factors that hinder naturalization in Seda are poor command of the Latvian language and affronted feeling towards the state.

At the initiative of local students, Naturalization Boards information booth visited rural Seda on Saturday. Seda is the only town in Northern Vidzeme where Russian speakers are in the majority, and only 630 out of 1,800 residents have Latvian citizenship. It was established in talking with locals that the major factors that hinder naturalization in Seda are poor command of the Latvian language and affronted feeling towards the state. Diena, Panorama Latvii

"The Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities needs to be ratified in order to promote integration," Ramona Umblija, Council chairwoman at Latvia's Society Integration Foundation says in an interview in the newspaper

"The Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities needs to be ratified in order to promote integration," Ramona Umblija, Council chairwoman at Latvia's Society Integration Foundation says in an interview in the newspaper Chas. According to Umblija, such a move would be a major step towards promoting integration at the legislative level, as after the convention is ratified, all laws should be harmonized with it. Umblija also believes that a ministry should be set up to deal with ethnic minority matters. Umblija draws the example of Estonia, where such a ministry has been established. She believes this would facilitate tackling integration matters in Latvia. The Council of Europe's Information and Documentation Center last year staged a discussion on problems linked with the ratification of the Convention on the Protection of National Minorities in Latvia. Letters inquiring whether Latvia needs to ratify the Convention were sent to twenty four various political parties, non-governmental organizations and local governments. Eight replies were received in support of the ratification of the Convention, two said that Latvia should not ratify it. FF/LNNK factions at Saeima and Riga City Council believe that ratifying the Convention would endanger and hinder implementation of the integration program. The ratification of the Convention was supported by Latvias Way. FHRUL believes that Latvia must ratify the Convention and do so without any excuses. The People's Party believes that Latvia should ratify the Convention, provided that this would not make the status of the state language in Latvia decline. The ratification of the Convention is also supported by the Russian Community in Latvia and the Association of Ethnic Culture Unions in Latvia. LETA

Chas

informs that about 8000 people took part at the poll organized by FF/LNNK where the party asked whether Saeimas MPs have to speak the Latvian language. The organizers did not expect such high response rate. informs that about 8000 people took part at the poll organized by FF/LNNK where the party asked whether Saeima’s MPs have to speak the Latvian language. The organizers did not expect such high response rate. Today the Cabinet of Ministers will consider the new law on the European Parliament Election. The key discussion will be whether chekists (former KGB officers) who are Latvian citizens should be entitled to take part at the elections.

Today the Cabinet of Ministers will consider the new law on the European Parliament Election. The key discussion will be whether chekists (former KGB officers) who are Latvian citizens should be entitled to take part at the elections. Chas

Vesti Segodnja

inquires several opposition MPs whether they would take a solemn oath if it is provided by law. The majority of them say yes, however, they find it ineffective and useless procedure. inquires several opposition MPs whether they would take a solemn oath if it is provided by law. The majority of them say yes, however, they find it ineffective and useless procedure.

Vesti Segodnja

provides FHRUL leader Janis Jurkans arguments against Latvias membership to NATO. His main argument is that the membership is a luxury that Latvia cannot afford. He says that already at this time, Latvias army lacks LVL 40 million annually. provides FHRUL leader Janis Jurkans arguments against Latvia’s membership to NATO. His main argument is that the membership “is a luxury that Latvia cannot afford.” He says that already at this time, Latvia’s army lacks LVL 40 million annually.

Telegraf

talks with Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane about the recent scandal concerning the trading with Latvian citizenship. E.Aldarmane says that the investigators have concluded that this was not purchase of citizenship, but it was the bribing of the two of three Examination Commission members, therefore, the applicants had to speak and know the Latvian language anyway. The Naturalization Board Head informs that naturalization procedure will not be made more complicated and difficult. talks with Naturalization Board Head Eizenija Aldermane about the recent scandal concerning the trading with Latvian citizenship. E.Aldarmane says that the investigators have concluded that this was not “purchase of citizenship, but it was the bribing of the two of three Examination Commission members,” therefore, the applicants had to speak and know the Latvian language anyway. The Naturalization Board Head informs that naturalization procedure will not be made more complicated and difficult.

Telegraf

columnist writes about pre-election campaigns of political parties. The author writes that 8th Saeima elections will be special as for the first time the parties will be seriously fighting for the votes of Russian-speakers. The author admits that the most serious work with Russian speakers electorate is carried out by Latvias Way.columnist writes about pre-election campaigns of political parties. The author writes that 8th Saeima elections will be special as “for the first time the parties will be seriously fighting for the votes of Russian-speakers.” The author admits that the most serious work with Russian speakers’ electorate is carried out by Latvia’s Way.

Telegraf

publishes the article about Slivenkos case by MP Boriss Cilevics. He believes that the consideration of the case with the Court – no matter what is the ruling – is already useful for Latvia. He arguments up till now the Latvian community discussed such cases in very political terms: occupation, historical guilt, etc, completely ignoring the individuals involved. publishes the article about Slivenko’s case by MP Boriss Cilevics. He believes that the consideration of the case with the Court – no matter what is the ruling – is already useful for Latvia. He arguments “up till now the Latvian community discussed such cases in very political terms: occupation, historical guilt, etc, completely ignoring the individuals involved.” Nearly each Central and Eastern European country has problems in controlling financing of political parties, and also its own solutions for these problems, most participants of a conference on control of political parties’ election campaigns in Central and Eastern Europe, that was held in Riga. Meanwhile Soros Foundation-Latvia and the anti-graft organization Transparency International-Latvia have decided to launch a project on transparency in financing political parties ahead of the eighth Saeima elections. The monitoring method that will be used in the project has been worked out by Transparency International-Argentina.

Nearly each Central and Eastern European country has problems in controlling financing of political parties, and also its own solutions for these problems, most participants of a conference on control of political parties election campaigns in Central and Eastern Europe, that was held in Riga. Meanwhile Soros Foundation-Latvia and the anti-graft organization Transparency International-Latvia have decided to launch a project on transparency in financing political parties ahead of the eighth Saeima elections. The monitoring method that will be used in the project has been worked out by Transparency International-Argentina. Diena, Neatkariga

Most Saeima deputies approve in principle a number of amendments, submitted by Latvia’s Way to better system for financing of political parties. LW’s proposals still need to be bettered, and it will be proved by how qualitative amendments are passed in the final reading if the major support to these proposals was political parties’ actual wish to bring order to the financing or a mere pre-election gesture, Anita Brauna says in

Most Saeima deputies approve in principle a number of amendments, submitted by Latvias Way to better system for financing of political parties. LWs proposals still need to be bettered, and it will be proved by how qualitative amendments are passed in the final reading if the major support to these proposals was political parties actual wish to bring order to the financing or a mere pre-election gesture, Anita Brauna says in Dienas commentary.