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

The Farmers' Union/the Christian Democrats and

The Farmers' Union/the Christian Democrats and "Tautai un Taisnibai" ("TT"--"For People and Justice") agreed to support Skele's Cabinet yesterday. The two factions will participate in the forming of the government as one political group. Leaders of the two factions (Pauls Putnins and Gunta Ganussa) have not agreed on the posts the group would intend to take and are waiting for Skele to draw up a more detailed concept of the new Cabinet. The Farmers/the Christian Democrats and "TT" have 15 seats (6 and 9, correspondingly) in the Saeima. Diena

Andris Skele told the press that he had several candidates for Minister of Finance. He added that the most probable candidate was "a well-known person and a member of a political party" (Cevers?).

Andris Skele told the press that he had several candidates for Minister of Finance. He added that the most probable candidate was "a well-known person and a member of a political party" (Cevers?). Latvijas Vestnesis

Chairman of the Riga City Council Committee on Non-Citizens and Stateless Persons Maris Plavnieks (former CID Director, member of the National-Democratic Party) in an interview for

Chairman of the Riga City Council Committee on Non-Citizens and Stateless Persons Maris Plavnieks (former CID Director, member of the National-Democratic Party) in an interview for "PANORAMA LATVII" admitted that non-citizens would have to face certain problems while applying for new passports. Most of the problems will be caused by additional check-ups of applicants' personal data. Plavnieks agreed that the check-up would cause certain inconvenience. Still, he believes it to be the only way to discover persons who had illegally obtained identification documents. The Riga City Council on Non-Citizens has received eight hundred complaints during last three years. Half of the cases were resolved in favor of the applicants. According to Plavnieks, the nationalists in the Riga City Council are attempting to disperse the Committee. He believes that the Committee will still be an important tool for eliminating the consequences of bureaucratic arbitrary rule.

Chairman of the President's Committee on Human Rights Vladimir Kartashkin believes that Russia should show more persistence in protecting the rights of its citizens abroad. In an interview for

Chairman of the President's Committee on Human Rights Vladimir Kartashkin believes that Russia should show more persistence in protecting the rights of its citizens abroad. In an interview for "SM" Kartashkin said that the Committee recommended the President and the Government to come up with a declaration on human rights to be signed by all CIS countries. The Committee suggested to established joint committees on human rights with former USSR republics including the Baltic states. Kartashkin marked "a certain improvement" in the human rights situation in Latvia and Estonia, mentioning the establishment of the State Human Rights Office in Latvia as a positive development. He believes that cooperation between the Committee and the Office could be helpful for both Latvia and Russia. Although Russia is not planning to bring up the problem of "compatriots abroad" at the European Court, it may use OSCE membership to influence domestic policy of a country violating the rights of Russian-speakers. Although Kartashkin speaks in favor of granting the right for dual citizenship to Russian-speakers in former USSR republics, he is against automatic Russian citizenship to all non-citizens outside Russia. This would be a violation of their right for a free choice, says Kartashkin. SM