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

The complete package of agreements on troops' withdrawal between Latvia and Russia was initialled in Moscow on March 15. The package includes the following four documents: the agreement on the terms and procedure of the complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the agreement on the temporary operation of the Skrunda radar station and, and two agreements on social guarantees for Russian Army servicemen. The documents are to be approved of by both governments, signed by both presidents, and ratified by the parliaments. One of the documents that is part of the agreements initialled at the talks is a basic agreement on the terms and procedure of the withdrawal of Russian Armed Forces from Latvia which names August 31, 1994 as the withdrawal deadline. The withdrawal schedule will be added to the agreement. According to the heads of both delegations the schedule has already been worked out. The agreements on social guarantees for Russian Army servicemen includes the agreement on servicemen at active service during their temporary stay in Latvia and the agreement on retired servicemen and their families which applies to servicemen retired before January 28, 1992, i.e. before the transfer of the Soviet Army under the Jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. According to the agreement such retired servicemen will be guaranteed the permission to stay in Latvia and their pensions will be paid by Russia from its pension funds. The agreement on Skrunda does not state the annual rent to be paid by Russia. Still, it was stated by the head of the Russian delegation that it could not be an obstacle to the Russian-Latvian summit. Previously it had been stated by Russia that the summit would not be held unless the rent is agreed upon. Russia is still offering 2 mln USD rent while Latvia abandoned its categorical demands for 400 mln USD annual payments but is expecting the rent higher than the one offered by Russia. According to non-official sources the 1994 military budget of Russia is unexpectedly low and so it is hard to expect that Latvia will manage to get a higher rent for Skrunda. Still the rent could be increased indirectly through the introduction of preferential duties on Latvian goods exported to Russia. Mr. Zotov noted that by signing the agreement Russia had produced various bilateral and multilateral guarantees of the inviolability of the sovereignty of Latvia.

The complete package of agreements on troops' withdrawal between Latvia and Russia was initialled in Moscow on March 15. The package includes the following four documents: the agreement on the terms and procedure of the complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the agreement on the temporary operation of the Skrunda radar station and, and two agreements on social guarantees for Russian Army servicemen. The documents are to be approved of by both governments, signed by both presidents, and ratified by the parliaments. One of the documents that is part of the agreements initialled at the talks is a basic agreement on the terms and procedure of the withdrawal of Russian Armed Forces from Latvia which names August 31, 1994 as the withdrawal deadline. The withdrawal schedule will be added to the agreement. According to the heads of both delegations the schedule has already been worked out. The agreements on social guarantees for Russian Army servicemen includes the agreement on servicemen at active service during their temporary stay in Latvia and the agreement on retired servicemen and their families which applies to servicemen retired before January 28, 1992, i.e. before the transfer of the Soviet Army under the Jurisdiction of the Russian Federation. According to the agreement such retired servicemen will be guaranteed the permission to stay in Latvia and their pensions will be paid by Russia from its pension funds. The agreement on Skrunda does not state the annual rent to be paid by Russia. Still, it was stated by the head of the Russian delegation that it could not be an obstacle to the Russian-Latvian summit. Previously it had been stated by Russia that the summit would not be held unless the rent is agreed upon. Russia is still offering 2 mln USD rent while Latvia abandoned its categorical demands for 400 mln USD annual payments but is expecting the rent higher than the one offered by Russia. According to non-official sources the 1994 military budget of Russia is unexpectedly low and so it is hard to expect that Latvia will manage to get a higher rent for Skrunda. Still the rent could be increased indirectly through the introduction of preferential duties on Latvian goods exported to Russia. Mr. Zotov noted that by signing the agreement Russia had produced various bilateral and multilateral guarantees of the inviolability of the sovereignty of Latvia. Diena, Labrit

The "Tevzemei un Brivibai" fraction expressed opinion that the talks between Russia and Latvia had entered into contradiction with Latvian laws and the will of the majority of the country's citizens. The extraordinary meeting of the Co-ordination Council of the party was held on March 15 in this connection. It was decided during the meeting to suggest the Saema to adopt a draft law that would allow to hold a referendum on the Skrunda issue during the local elections. Though according to Latvian laws the referendum cannot directly influence international agreements the fraction believes that it could be a political action that will help to express the opinion of Latvian citizens on the problem. It was also stated by the fraction that the decision by the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the agreements on Skrunda and retired servicemen is illegal since according to the Law it is only the Saema that can adopt such decisions.

The "Tevzemei un Brivibai" fraction expressed opinion that the talks between Russia and Latvia had entered into contradiction with Latvian laws and the will of the majority of the country's citizens. The extraordinary meeting of the Co-ordination Council of the party was held on March 15 in this connection. It was decided during the meeting to suggest the Saema to adopt a draft law that would allow to hold a referendum on the Skrunda issue during the local elections. Though according to Latvian laws the referendum cannot directly influence international agreements the fraction believes that it could be a political action that will help to express the opinion of Latvian citizens on the problem. It was also stated by the fraction that the decision by the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the agreements on Skrunda and retired servicemen is illegal since according to the Law it is only the Saema that can adopt such decisions. Labrit

There is around 700,000 stateless persons residing currently in Latvia. Still, the existing laws do not define them as stateless. They can be considered to be "permanent residents" since they have permanent Latvian "propiska". But the laws do not give the definition of a "permanent resident" either. This group of inhabitants of Latvia includes retired servicemen. Still the latter do not need residence permits since according to Paragraph 1 of the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Republic of June 10, 1992 "On the Procedure of Implementation of the Law "On the Entrance and Stay of Stateless Persons and Foreigners in the Republic of Latvia" residents permits are to be issued to foreigners and stateless persons who had no Latvian "propiska" on the date of the Law coming into force. This means that the law defining the status of the stateless persons is needed. Upon the adoption of the Citizenship Law part of the stateless will be naturalized, part of them will choose Russian citizenship, and a certain number of "real" stateless will still remain. On March 17 the Legal Commission of the Saema considered three draft laws on the status of the stateless. The first two drafts proposed by "Latvijas Cels" and "Saskana Latvijai" have very much in common and suggest that all former USSR citizens that had a permanent Latvian "propiska" on July 1, 1992 should enjoy the rights and fulfil the duties stated by the Law of the Republic of Latvia "On the Rights and the Duties of an Individual and a Citizen" and the Law on Ethnic Communities. The "Latvijas Cels" draft suggests that the identification certificate (?) is not issued to persons who had retired from the USSR or Russian Armed Forces, KGB, border guard, or other military units after August 21, 1991 (?) except for the persons who had had Latvian "propiska" before joining the aforementioned units, or are members of citizens' families. Other retired servicemen who entered Latvia after June 17, 1940 will receive the identification certificate (?) and will be issued with 3 to 5 year temporary residence permits. The joint draft by LNNK and "Tevzemei un Brivibai" suggests that all former USSR citizens who have not received the citizenship of any other state should be considered foreigners and should apply for temporary or permanent residence permits. Taking into consideration the fundamental contradictions existing between the two concepts the Legal Commission suggested that "Latvias Cels" and "Saskana Latvijai" should prepare a joint draft. Both drafts will be discussed at the next meeting of the Legal Commission of the Saema.

There is around 700,000 stateless persons residing currently in Latvia. Still, the existing laws do not define them as stateless. They can be considered to be "permanent residents" since they have permanent Latvian "propiska". But the laws do not give the definition of a "permanent resident" either. This group of inhabitants of Latvia includes retired servicemen. Still the latter do not need residence permits since according to Paragraph 1 of the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Republic of June 10, 1992 "On the Procedure of Implementation of the Law "On the Entrance and Stay of Stateless Persons and Foreigners in the Republic of Latvia" residents permits are to be issued to foreigners and stateless persons who had no Latvian "propiska" on the date of the Law coming into force. This means that the law defining the status of the stateless persons is needed. Upon the adoption of the Citizenship Law part of the stateless will be naturalized, part of them will choose Russian citizenship, and a certain number of "real" stateless will still remain. On March 17 the Legal Commission of the Saema considered three draft laws on the status of the stateless. The first two drafts proposed by "Latvijas Cels" and "Saskana Latvijai" have very much in common and suggest that all former USSR citizens that had a permanent Latvian "propiska" on July 1, 1992 should enjoy the rights and fulfil the duties stated by the Law of the Republic of Latvia "On the Rights and the Duties of an Individual and a Citizen" and the Law on Ethnic Communities. The "Latvijas Cels" draft suggests that the identification certificate (?) is not issued to persons who had retired from the USSR or Russian Armed Forces, KGB, border guard, or other military units after August 21, 1991 (?) except for the persons who had had Latvian "propiska" before joining the aforementioned units, or are members of citizens' families. Other retired servicemen who entered Latvia after June 17, 1940 will receive the identification certificate (?) and will be issued with 3 to 5 year temporary residence permits. The joint draft by LNNK and "Tevzemei un Brivibai" suggests that all former USSR citizens who have not received the citizenship of any other state should be considered foreigners and should apply for temporary or permanent residence permits. Taking into consideration the fundamental contradictions existing between the two concepts the Legal Commission suggested that "Latvias Cels" and "Saskana Latvijai" should prepare a joint draft. Both drafts will be discussed at the next meeting of the Legal Commission of the Saema. Labrit