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

Yesterday Latvian high officials President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Berzins met with visiting U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns and deputy U.S. Undersecretaries of State. Burns commended Latvia's progress, which is quite apparent compared to his previous visit to Latvia five years ago. The U.S. Ambassador to NATO informed the President about visits to NATO applicant countries, stressing that Latvia is a strong candidate state. Whereas Deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. State Department for Eastern Europe Heather Conley extended compliments from the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on the Latvian President’s successful visit to the U.S.Amendments to the Election Law, which would lift language restrictions for candidates for Saeima and

Yesterday Latvian high officials President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Berzins met with visiting U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns and deputy U.S. Undersecretaries of State. Burns commended Latvia's progress, which is quite apparent compared to his previous visit to Latvia five years ago. The U.S. Ambassador to NATO informed the President about visits to NATO applicant countries, stressing that Latvia is a strong candidate state. Whereas Deputy Undersecretary of the U.S. State Department for Eastern Europe Heather Conley extended compliments from the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on the Latvian Presidents successful visit to the U.S.Amendments to the Election Law, which would lift language restrictions for candidates for Saeima and

After a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns Prime Minister Andris Berzins said that the amendments to the Election Law, which would lift language restrictions for candidates for Saeima and municipal deputies, would be passed by November in Latvia, before the NATO Summit in Prague. The Premier told the Ambassador that the government’s coalition parties had arrived at such an agreement. Burns repeatedly expressed the United States’ support for Latvia’s membership in NATO, in his meetings with others Latvia’s top officials.

After a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns Prime Minister Andris Berzins said that the amendments to the Election Law, which would lift language restrictions for candidates for Saeima and municipal deputies, would be passed by November in Latvia, before the NATO Summit in Prague. The Premier told the Ambassador that the governments coalition parties had arrived at such an agreement. Burns repeatedly expressed the United States support for Latvias membership in NATO, in his meetings with others Latvias top officials. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas

Also visiting Latvia and meeting with top government officials yesterday was the UK Defense Secretary Geoffrey Hoon. He accented that his nation lauds Latvia’s movements so far in its accession move to the North Atlantic alliance. London wants to see Latvia as a NATO member, said Hoon. He also noted that the amendments to the Election Law are a matter of Latvia's internal affairs but it is nonetheless very important to NATO that Latvia complies with the requirements for democratic countries.

Also visiting Latvia and meeting with top government officials yesterday was the UK Defense Secretary Geoffrey Hoon. He accented that his nation lauds Latvias movements so far in its accession move to the North Atlantic alliance. London wants to see Latvia as a NATO member, said Hoon. He also noted that the amendments to the Election Law are a matter of Latvia's internal affairs but it is nonetheless very important to NATO that Latvia complies with the requirements for democratic countries. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas

Latvia’s delegation head to NATO PA Aleksandrs Kirsteins informs about the chapters in NATO’s Report on Enlargement discussing Latvia. Kirsteins informs about the general key criteria according to which the countries are assessed for their readiness to be invited to NATO. He names Latvia’s positive achievements included in this report, as well as he provides the following objections against Latvia’s NATO membership: “1) Russia’s rights in neighboring countries and NATO intervention in this territory; 2) unwillingness of Russia to determine the border line with Latvia and Estonia; 3) mixed body of the residents with more than 500 000 non-citizens and 17 000 Russian citizens; 4) high number of retired Soviet military officers and KGB agents; 5) big crowds of suspicious, hopeless and frustrated Russians.” Kirsteins also points out that these were also “the main reasons why not only Germany, but also UK, the Netherlands and Canada objected the closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia at the end of the year”. Kirsteins concludes, “Let’s hope we will be invited to join NATO with the support of the USA and Nordic countries”.

Latvias delegation head to NATO PA Aleksandrs Kirsteins informs about the chapters in NATOs Report on Enlargement discussing Latvia. Kirsteins informs about the general key criteria according to which the countries are assessed for their readiness to be invited to NATO. He names Latvias positive achievements included in this report, as well as he provides the following objections against Latvias NATO membership: 1) Russias rights in neighboring countries and NATO intervention in this territory; 2) unwillingness of Russia to determine the border line with Latvia and Estonia; 3) mixed body of the residents with more than 500 000 non-citizens and 17 000 Russian citizens; 4) high number of retired Soviet military officers and KGB agents; 5) big crowds of suspicious, hopeless and frustrated Russians. Kirsteins also points out that these were also the main reasons why not only Germany, but also UK, the Netherlands and Canada objected the closure of the OSCE Mission to Latvia at the end of the year. Kirsteins concludes, Lets hope we will be invited to join NATO with the support of the USA and Nordic countries. Diena

PCTVL-supported officials to head Riga City Council’s offices in Latgale and Kurzeme districts. After heated debate for about one hour yesterday, the Riga City Council replaced two Riga City Council’s executive directors in the city’s districts. PCTVL’s supporters Dmitrijs Pavlovs and Jelena Baumane replaced the former executive directors for Riga’s Latgale and Kurzeme districts, Guntis Grinbergs (LSDSP) and Janis Avenins (Labor Party).

PCTVL-supported officials to head Riga City Councils offices in Latgale and Kurzeme districts. After heated debate for about one hour yesterday, the Riga City Council replaced two Riga City Councils executive directors in the citys districts. PCTVLs supporters Dmitrijs Pavlovs and Jelena Baumane replaced the former executive directors for Rigas Latgale and Kurzeme districts, Guntis Grinbergs (LSDSP) and Janis Avenins (Labor Party). Diena stresses this is the first time when the Riga City Councils majority so openly wields its political power by appointing its own people in executive posts and links this with upcoming Saiema elections, as these officials will be responsible for issuing the permits for different political activities. Previously, the majoritys influence was realized with the help of municipal proxies. Neatkariga says, quoting an unofficial source, that more Riga districts leaders will be replaced next week. Diena, Neatkariga, Chas, Telegraf, Vesti Segodnja, Panorama Latvii

The Russia’s newspaper

The Russias newspaper Komersant Dengi is still advertising the opportunity to buy Baltic states and French citizenship, although pointing out that currently problems with Latvian citizenship have arisen and it is not available at this time. As the newspaper "Neatkariga Rita Avize" reports today, Latvian law enforcement institutions have declined to comment on the situation, providing no information on whether the information in "Komersant Dengi" is connected to the recent arrests of dealers in citizenship in Latvia.

Chas

editorial is looking into the issue concerning Latvias Russian language press. The columnist Fedoseyev rejects the acquisitions that press in Russian do not protect the interests of national minorities. He reasons that stating that the audiences of Russian newspapers are the only source of income for these newspapers and if these newspapers are not writing about the problems and concerns of their audiences they would go bankrupt immediately. He also believes that any attempts of the authorities to create loyal Russian newspaper will fail and the situation will not change till these authorities will start a fair dialogue with non-Latvians with the help of the same non-loyal Russian means of mass media. editorial is looking into the issue concerning Latvia’s Russian language press. The columnist Fedoseyev rejects the acquisitions that press in Russian do not protect the interests of national minorities. He reasons that stating that the audiences of Russian newspapers are the only source of income for these newspapers and if these newspapers are not writing about the problems and concerns of their audiences they would go bankrupt immediately. He also believes that any attempts of the authorities to create “loyal Russian newspaper” will fail and the situation will not change till “these authorities will start a fair dialogue with non-Latvians with the help of the same “non-loyal” Russian means of mass media”.

Chas

writes about the role of the USA in Latvias way towards NATO. The newspaper notes that the USA has always voiced its support to the Baltic States membership to NATO and points out that Latvia has uzcitigi fulfilled different USA requirements, such as, letting ships with nuclear weapons on their board to enter Latvian ports. Latvian politicians believed that because of these concessions, the USA and Brussels would close the eyes on the flaws in Latvian legislation concerning the rights of non-Latvians. writes about the role of the USA in Latvia’s way towards NATO. The newspaper notes that the USA has always voiced its support to the Baltic States’ membership to NATO and points out that Latvia has uzcitigi fulfilled different USA requirements, such as, letting ships with nuclear weapons on their board to enter Latvian ports. “Latvian politicians believed that because of these concessions, the USA and Brussels would close the eyes on the flaws in Latvian legislation concerning the rights of non-Latvians.” ChasChas concludes that now Latvia has two options whether to provide rights to non-Latvians or forget about NATO. concludes that now Latvia has two options whether to provide rights to non-Latvians or forget about NATO.

Vesti Segodnja

writes about Peoples Partys activities concerning language issue, in particular about discussions and articles in Partys latest newspaper issue. writes about People’s Party’s activities concerning language issue, in particular about discussions and articles in Party’s latest newspaper issue. VestiVesti SegodnjaSegodnja concludes that Peoples Party has decided to work with nationalistic electorate, as the Party did not make a big success in economical and social spheres. concludes that People’s Party has decided to work with nationalistic electorate, as the Party did not make a big success in economical and social spheres.