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

Prime-Minister Skele during his press-conference last Friday said that several important points of the Government Declaration were still not implemented. Among those he mentioned naturalization and the exchange of aliens' passports. Mr. Skele believes that Latvia's population should be informed on naturalization and advantages provided by new aliens' passports. He noted that Russia violates the interests of Russian-speakers by refusing to recognize the new passports. The issue may be put on the agenda of Mr. Skele's meeting with Russian Prime-Minister Chernomyrdin. The date of the meeting has not been appointed yet.

Prime-Minister Skele during his press-conference last Friday said that several important points of the Government Declaration were still not implemented. Among those he mentioned naturalization and the exchange of aliens' passports. Mr. Skele believes that Latvia's population should be informed on naturalization and advantages provided by new aliens' passports. He noted that Russia violates the interests of Russian-speakers by refusing to recognize the new passports. The issue may be put on the agenda of Mr. Skele's meeting with Russian Prime-Minister Chernomyrdin. The date of the meeting has not been appointed yet.

The

The LNNK Congress voted in favor of the party merging with "Tevzemei un Brivibai". Minister of EU Affairs Aleksandrs Kirsteins and Minister of Defense Andrejs Krastins were among those who voted against the decision. The LNNK and the Greens have eight seats in the Saeima and two members of the party hold the posts of ministers. "TB" has thirteen seats and is represented by four ministers in the Cabinet. According to forecasts, moderate LNNK members may join "Latvijas Cels" or a new party that may be formed by Janis Peters and Raimonds Pauls in the nearest future. B&B