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

Prime-Minister Skele's interview a Lithuanian business newspaper caused a scandal in Lithuania. The interview contains a statement that humiliates Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gylys. The paper quotes Skele who said that "Gylys was fit only for wearing a cap with ear-flaps". Skele also responded in a rude and ironic manner to a journalist's questions. According to

Prime-Minister Skele's interview a Lithuanian business newspaper caused a scandal in Lithuania. The interview contains a statement that humiliates Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gylys. The paper quotes Skele who said that "Gylys was fit only for wearing a cap with ear-flaps". Skele also responded in a rude and ironic manner to a journalist's questions. According to "DIENA", the interview "caused a storm in Lithuania". The journalist who interviewed Prime-Minister Skele says that she will not deny any points of the interview. She also claims that a Latvian journalist who can confirm the authenticity of the quote, was present at the interview. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is said to deny the authenticity of Skele's interview. Diena

Last meeting of the

Last meeting of the Saeima Human Rights Committee was focused on the problem of extraordinary naturalization of individuals forcefully deported to Latvia by the German occupation regime between 1941 and 1945. According to Article 13 of the Citizenship law, such individuals and their descendants are entitled to extraordinary naturalization. Most of them have very good command of the Latvian language. In practice, these persons have to prove that they were not evacuated to Latvia as civil residents of a combat zone but were taken to the country forcefully. Very often no proof is to be found in the archives. Many applicants are forced to confirm their right for extraordinary naturalization in court. Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Aldermane says that the Board very often has serious difficulties in deciding whether a person entered Latvia voluntarily or was brought to the country by force during the war. She believes that the Committee and the Saeima could find a solution to the problem. Currently, only few of 181 applicants who entered Latvia during the German occupation have received citizenship through extraordinary naturalization. Neatkariga Director of the Russian Border Guard Service Nikolayev told "SM" that Russia would not agree to readmit illegal immigrants arriving to Latvia. He believes that illegal immigrants should be repatriated to their home countries and not to the country through which they have arrived to Latvia. Mr. Nikolayev says that Latvian and Russian Border-Guards have established good relations and operate in close cooperation. SM

The mass-media is still expecting President Ulmanis' opinion on a possible change of Latvia's policy at the border delimitation talks with Russia. During his visit to Great Britain the President said that he hoped the border issue would be resolved without violating the principles adhered to by the Baltic states. Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs told

The mass-media is still expecting President Ulmanis' opinion on a possible change of Latvia's policy at the border delimitation talks with Russia. During his visit to Great Britain the President said that he hoped the border issue would be resolved without violating the principles adhered to by the Baltic states. Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs told "DIENA" that Russia might come up with new aspects during the talks. He believes that Russia could link human rights issues with the problem of determining its border with Latvia. Russia has already acted in a similar in border delimitation talks with Estonia.