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

The Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the adoption of the Memorandum for the European Commission and will launch a discussion on certain requirements to be fulfilled by Latvia to join the EU. According to

The Cabinet of Ministers has postponed the adoption of the Memorandum for the European Commission and will launch a discussion on certain requirements to be fulfilled by Latvia to join the EU. According to "BIZNES & BALTIYA", the requirements are mainly related to non-citizen and minority problems. Yesterday the Government started the examination of the draft Memorandum to be submitted to the European Commission and to all EU countries. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects the document to change the decision by the European Commission taken in July this year that did not include Latvia in the group of countries to participate in the talks on their admission to the EU. State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maris Riekstins told "BIZNES & BALTIYA" that the discussion will focus on naturalization and on the possibility of acceding to several European Conventions including the Convention on Regional and Minority Languages. "BIZNES & BALTIYA" suggests that the discussion mentioned by Mr. Riekstins will be an attempt to persuade "Tevzemei un Brivibai" to give up its standpoints on naturalization and minorities. The newly adopted agreement between the governing factions allows to amend the Citizenship Law and the Law on the Status of Former USSR Citizens solely on the basis of a consensus.

"DIENA"

in its report on the progress of naturalization processes in Rezekne highly praised the efforts of the head of the regional Naturalization Board office Mrs. Rita Zommere. Mrs. Zommere organized special consultations on naturalization issues for the staff of local companies. in its report on the progress of naturalization processes in Rezekne highly praised the efforts of the head of the regional Naturalization Board office Mrs. Rita Zommere. Mrs. Zommere organized special consultations on naturalization issues for the staff of local companies. "REBIR""REBIR", the largest factory in the area, even agreed to cover a half of the naturalization fee to be paid by its employees. The area covered by the Rezekne office includes the city of Rezekne and the Rezekne, Ludza and Preili Regions with total population of 179,039. The number of non-citizens in the area is 18,014. Rezekne Mayor Janis June supports the idea of granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia. He considers the opportunity of providing financial aid to school graduates willing to undergo naturalization but finding it hard to pay the fee. Currently, there are four Russian language and two Latvian language schools in Rezekne. , the largest factory in the area, even agreed to cover a half of the naturalization fee to be paid by its employees. The area covered by the Rezekne office includes the city of Rezekne and the Rezekne, Ludza and Preili Regions with total population of 179,039. The number of non-citizens in the area is 18,014. Rezekne Mayor Janis June supports the idea of granting Latvian citizenship to all children born in Latvia. He considers the opportunity of providing financial aid to school graduates willing to undergo naturalization but finding it hard to pay the fee. Currently, there are four Russian language and two Latvian language schools in Rezekne. DienaDiena The Senate of the Latvian Supreme Court supported the verdict by the Riga Regional Court on the expulsion of military pensioner Anatoly Tsimbalyuk. Mr. Tsimbalyuk was demobilized in 1983 and worked as a stoker in an army unit. Although he had the right to receive the status of a permanent inhabitant, he took a residence permit by mistake. After his wife died, he lived in Lutsk (Ukraine) for a short time, then canceled his

The Senate of the Latvian Supreme Court supported the verdict by the Riga Regional Court on the expulsion of military pensioner Anatoly Tsimbalyuk. Mr. Tsimbalyuk was demobilized in 1983 and worked as a stoker in an army unit. Although he had the right to receive the status of a permanent inhabitant, he took a residence permit by mistake. After his wife died, he lived in Lutsk (Ukraine) for a short time, then canceled his "propiska" there, returned to Latvia and married a permanent resident. Having lost his passport, Mr. Tsimbalyuk applied for a new one to his local CID office. Head of the office refused to issue the passport and advised Tsimbalyuk to take Russian citizenship. He did so, and the CID issued him with an expulsion order after his temporary residence permit expired. The final verdict is "expulsion to Ukraine" although Mr. Tsimbalyuk is a Russian citizen now. The Court has not recognized his marriage to a resident of Latvia, the marriage being concluded at the Russian Embassy. The author of the article (Natalya Lebedeva) criticizes OSCE Mission member Falk Lange for being indifferent toward the case that was submitted to the Mission by members of the Latvian Human Rights Committee.