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

According to the Chairman of the State Assembly Commission for Foreign Affairs of Estonia the Government of the country has supported Latvia's agreement with Russia on troops withdrawal. Latvian organizations in Sweden have addressed the President of Latvia with a statement of protest against the agreement initialled in Moscow. The organization consider agreements on Skrunda and pensioned officers to be equal to a recognition of the legitimacy of the Russian occupation. According to the President's Office Mr.Ulmanis had a meeting with the Chairman of the Saema Anatoly Gorbunov, Prime-Minister Valdis Birkavs, Minister of Interior Girts Kristovskis, Minister for Special Missions Edvins Inkens, Parliament Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Martins Virsis, and the Head of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Andreis Pantelejevs. The subject of the meeting was the preparation for the summit to be held in Moscow in the second half of April. Today the President will have a meeting with the Latvian delegation members. It has been also explained to the participants of the meeting that the draft agreements (Latvian version) are not official translation from Russian.

According to the Chairman of the State Assembly Commission for Foreign Affairs of Estonia the Government of the country has supported Latvia's agreement with Russia on troops withdrawal. Latvian organizations in Sweden have addressed the President of Latvia with a statement of protest against the agreement initialled in Moscow. The organization consider agreements on Skrunda and pensioned officers to be equal to a recognition of the legitimacy of the Russian occupation. According to the President's Office Mr.Ulmanis had a meeting with the Chairman of the Saema Anatoly Gorbunov, Prime-Minister Valdis Birkavs, Minister of Interior Girts Kristovskis, Minister for Special Missions Edvins Inkens, Parliament Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Martins Virsis, and the Head of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Andreis Pantelejevs. The subject of the meeting was the preparation for the summit to be held in Moscow in the second half of April. Today the President will have a meeting with the Latvian delegation members. It has been also explained to the participants of the meeting that the draft agreements (Latvian version) are not official translation from Russian. Diena, Labrit

"Tevzemei in Brivibai" fraction submitted the draft law on the referendum on the Skrunda radar station to the Saema. "T un B" suggests that it should be the people who will make the final decision on the issue and that the ratification of the agreement should be postponed until the results of the referendum are known. According to the draft law the referendum is to be held during the elections for the self-governing bodies on May 29. The Saema will make a decision on the ratification of the agreement on the Skrunda radar station with regard of the results of the referendum. The Presidium of the Saema has decreed to hand the draft over to the Legal Commission. The Commission will prepare the draft for consideration during a plenary meeting of the Saeima. The referendum can be held only if a special law is adopted since Satversme (the Constitution) does not provide for referendums on international agreements.

"Tevzemei in Brivibai" fraction submitted the draft law on the referendum on the Skrunda radar station to the Saema. "T un B" suggests that it should be the people who will make the final decision on the issue and that the ratification of the agreement should be postponed until the results of the referendum are known. According to the draft law the referendum is to be held during the elections for the self-governing bodies on May 29. The Saema will make a decision on the ratification of the agreement on the Skrunda radar station with regard of the results of the referendum. The Presidium of the Saema has decreed to hand the draft over to the Legal Commission. The Commission will prepare the draft for consideration during a plenary meeting of the Saeima. The referendum can be held only if a special law is adopted since Satversme (the Constitution) does not provide for referendums on international agreements. Diena

The Latvian Union of Physicians has addressed Russian Ambassador Mr.Rannikh with an open letter. The subject of the letter is the status of Russian military hospitals. According to the agreement between Latvia and Russia the hospital are to be jointly used and managed by Latvia and Russia in order to render medical care to pensioned army officers and Latvian defence forces' servicemen. The Union does not agree to such approach but still approves of the idea that Russia should provide medical care to its retired army officers. The letter also contains a protest against information spread by the Ostankino TV Co. on the discrimination of non-Latvians by the Latvian system of health-care. Such misinformation can provoke ethnic confrontation in the country, the letter says

The Latvian Union of Physicians has addressed Russian Ambassador Mr.Rannikh with an open letter. The subject of the letter is the status of Russian military hospitals. According to the agreement between Latvia and Russia the hospital are to be jointly used and managed by Latvia and Russia in order to render medical care to pensioned army officers and Latvian defence forces' servicemen. The Union does not agree to such approach but still approves of the idea that Russia should provide medical care to its retired army officers. The letter also contains a protest against information spread by the Ostankino TV Co. on the discrimination of non-Latvians by the Latvian system of health-care. Such misinformation can provoke ethnic confrontation in the country, the letter says. Labrit

The Monument to the Liberators of Riga was defiled yesterday. Swastikas and "occupants, get out" slogan were painted on the front part of the Monument. The police has started the investigation of this act of vandalism.

The Monument to the Liberators of Riga was defiled yesterday. Swastikas and "occupants, get out" slogan were painted on the front part of the Monument. The police has started the investigation of this act of vandalism. SM

A conference of the Union for Protection of the Veterans' Rights was held on March 19. Among the subjects discussed were the rights of war veterans in Latvia had the registration of the Union. General-Colonel Mayorov criticized the union for its pro-Soviet activities in the past. Vladimir Buzayev, a chairman of one of the commissions of the "League of the Stateless" stressed that in spite of certain nationalistic trends that are present in the current domestic policies democratic tendencies still prevail in the social life of the country.

A conference of the Union for Protection of the Veterans' Rights was held on March 19. Among the subjects discussed were the rights of war veterans in Latvia had the registration of the Union. General-Colonel Mayorov criticized the union for its pro-Soviet activities in the past. Vladimir Buzayev, a chairman of one of the commissions of the "League of the Stateless" stressed that in spite of certain nationalistic trends that are present in the current domestic policies democratic tendencies still prevail in the social life of the country. SM Segodnya

The splitting of the "Saskana Latvijai" party according to "Rigas Balss" could be a manoeuvre helping the party to win more votes at the upcoming local elections. The newly created "Tautsaimnieku politiskaja apvieniba" (TA) (Industrial Union) focusses more on economical issues. The approach of the party to the citizenship issue is quite liberal; it suggests that the citizenship should be granted to all persons having lived in Latvia for more than 10 years and having proved their knowledge of the state language.

The splitting of the "Saskana Latvijai" party according to "Rigas Balss" could be a manoeuvre helping the party to win more votes at the upcoming local elections. The newly created "Tautsaimnieku politiskaja apvieniba" (TA) (Industrial Union) focusses more on economical issues. The approach of the party to the citizenship issue is quite liberal; it suggests that the citizenship should be granted to all persons having lived in Latvia for more than 10 years and having proved their knowledge of the state language. Rigas Balss