Integration monitor

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.

Feb. 14, 1997

Press Report

Yesterday the

Yesterday the Saeima voted for the Cabinet formed by five and supported by six factions. 70 deputies voted for the Cabinet with one deputy abstaining and 17 (Zigerist's party, the Socialists/the Equal Rights and several independent deputies) voting against Skele's Cabinet. The posts were distributed among the governing factions as follows:

"Latvijas Cels"
Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development -- Anatoly Gorbunovs

Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development -- Anatoly Gorbunovs

Minister of Foreign Affairs -- Valdis Birkavs

Minister of Communications -- Vilis Kristopans

State Minister of State Revenues -- Aija Poca

"Tevzemei un Brivibai"
Minister of Economics -- Guntars Krasts

Minister of Economics -- Guntars Krasts

Minister of Justice -- Dzintars Rasnacs

Minister of Welfare -- Vladimirs Makarovs

State Minister of Public Health -- Juris Vinkelis

"Saimnieks"

Deputy Prime-Minister -- Juris Kaksitis

Minister of the Interior -- Dainis Turlais

Minister of Education and Science -- Juris Celmins

State Minister for Self-Governments -- Eriks Zunda

The Farmers' Union/the Christian Democrats and the

The Farmers' Union/the Christian Democrats and the LNNK/the Greens

Minister of Defense -- Andrejs Krastins (

Minister of Defense -- Andrejs Krastins (LNNK)

Minister for EU Affairs -- Aleksandrs Kirsteins (

Minister for EU Affairs -- Aleksandrs Kirsteins (LNNK)

Minister of Agriculture -- Roberts Dilba (the Farmers' Union)

Minister of Culture -- Rihards Piks (the Farmers' Union)

State Minister of Environmental Protection -- Indulis Emsis

Andris Skele will perform the duties of Minister of Finance until the governing factions will agree on the candidate. Ziedonis Cevers agreed to withdraw his candidature for the post. The only changes brought by the Government crisis is the replacement of Maris Grinblats of "TB" by Juris Celmins of "Saimnieks" and Juris Kaksitis' appointment as Deputy Prime-Minister. "Saimnieks'" leader Cevers said that his party agreed to a compromise "not be moved out of the common apartment" and made it clear that "Saimnieks" would try to clear the apartment later.Diena, Neatkariga, SM

Deputy Speaker of the Russian

Deputy Speaker of the Russian Duma Sergey Baburin (the Communist Party) has been appointed head of the group responsible for receiving the Latvian delegation. Russian Ambassador to Latvia Aleksandr Udaltsov told Saeima Deputy-Speaker Andris Ameriks that Russia expected the Latvian side to show its understanding of Russia's interests. Those include the observance of the rights of Russian-speakers and a less complicated naturalization procedure. The Ambassador said that Russia was not putting an ultimatum. Still, the situation of non-Latvians, according to Udaltsov, is far from being an ideal one. The Ambassador also mentioned the closing of Russian schools. He said that Latvia should be consequent in following recommendations by international experts. Mr. Ameriks told the Ambassador that many Russian-speakers were sending their children to Latvian schools and kindergartens decreasing the number of students in Russian schools. He also informed Udaltsov about economic and social problems that might be faced by ethnic Latvians permanently residing in Russia in case they took Latvian citizenship. Diena

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