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

Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs had a meeting with Russian Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov. The agenda of the talks included issues connected with the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia. The Russian side expressed concern about the slowness of naturalization processes caused by Aobstacles artificially created by the Government". The Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs provided his Russian colleagues with the results of sociological research of non-citizens' attitude toward naturalization.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Valdis Birkavs had a meeting with Russian Deputy-Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov. The agenda of the talks included issues connected with the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia. The Russian side expressed concern about the slowness of naturalization processes caused by Aobstacles artificially created by the Government". The Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs provided his Russian colleagues with the results of sociological research of non-citizens' attitude toward naturalization. Diena, B&B

Today the first ten to fifteen non-citizens will receive new non-citizens' passports. The new passports have been recognized by twelve countries including USA, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Byelorussia, Slovakia, Norway, Great Britain, Finland, Israel, Czech Republic and Italy.

Today the first ten to fifteen non-citizens will receive new non-citizens' passports. The new passports have been recognized by twelve countries including USA, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Byelorussia, Slovakia, Norway, Great Britain, Finland, Israel, Czech Republic and Italy. B&B "PANORAMA LATVII" in a comment on OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel's visit to Latvia stressed that even "Latvijas Cels" member Antons Seiksts did not agree to removing "the nationality column" from Latvian passports. Head of the Naturalization Board Eizenija Adermane in an interview said that changing test requirements would be a violation of the Law.

"SM" in its survey of the OSCE High Commissioner's visit criticized Minister of Education Celmins for misinforming the High Commissioner on education for Russian-speakers. Mr. Celmins said that some of Russian language schools were closed after Russian-speaking families started sending their children to Latvian schools. According to the author of the article, the situation was caused by expected school reform that would make school education in Russian unavailable after 2005. He also stressed that Head of the Saeima Human Rights Committee Antons Seiksts while objecting to abolishing "the nationality column" did not give real reasons for his objections. According to the article, ethnic Latvians enjoyed advantages that would be lost, should their ethnic origin not be indicated in their passports. SM

Latvian Minister of the Interior Dainis Turlais and State Minister of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Schorri sinend an agreement on return of illegal immigrants. The agreement will come into force on May 1. An agreement on non-visa entrance regime will be signed after Latvia ratifies the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees.

Latvian Minister of the Interior Dainis Turlais and State Minister of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Schorri sinend an agreement on return of illegal immigrants. The agreement will come into force on May 1. An agreement on non-visa entrance regime will be signed after Latvia ratifies the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. Diena

"Tevzemei un Brivibai"

does not support the statement made by Minister of Economics Guntars Krasts last Tuesday. does not support the statement made by Minister of Economics Guntars Krasts last Tuesday. "TB""TB" member Krasts said that he would resign if Prime-Minister Skele insisted on the Director General of the Privatization Agency appointing Directors of the Agency. Mr. Krasts and his party suggest selecting candidates for the posts through a contest. Yesterday member Krasts said that he would resign if Prime-Minister Skele insisted on the Director General of the Privatization Agency appointing Directors of the Agency. Mr. Krasts and his party suggest selecting candidates for the posts through a contest. Yesterday "TB""TB" representatives had consultations with President Ulmanis. The President believes that Mr. Krasts should retain his post in the Government. representatives had consultations with President Ulmanis. The President believes that Mr. Krasts should retain his post in the Government. DienaDiena