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 Review

On March 30 the Cabinet of Ministers and the President discussed the agreements with Russia. During a TV press-conference the President noted that there were certain complicated issues that needed additional consideration. He also pointed out that before a summit with President Yeltsin he would like to meet with European politicians to find out their opinion on the agreements and to acquire certain guarantees. The Cabinet of Ministers is also expected to issue a political statement in support of the ratification of the agreements stressing the importance of the naming of a definite deadline for troop withdrawal. According to the BNS Agency Estonian Parliament speaker Ulo Nugis said that the initialled agreement on pensioned servicemen could complicate negotiations between Estonia and Russia.

On March 30 the Cabinet of Ministers and the President discussed the agreements with Russia. During a TV press-conference the President noted that there were certain complicated issues that needed additional consideration. He also pointed out that before a summit with President Yeltsin he would like to meet with European politicians to find out their opinion on the agreements and to acquire certain guarantees. The Cabinet of Ministers is also expected to issue a political statement in support of the ratification of the agreements stressing the importance of the naming of a definite deadline for troop withdrawal. According to the BNS Agency Estonian Parliament speaker Ulo Nugis said that the initialled agreement on pensioned servicemen could complicate negotiations between Estonia and Russia. Diena, Neatkariga Cina

The Cabinet of Ministers was picketed on March 29 by the followers of the "Tevzemei un Brivibai" movement protesting against the agreements on Skrunda and pensioned Russian army officers. It was also demanded that the President of Ministers Birkavs and the Minister for Special Missions Inkens should report on the agreements.

The Cabinet of Ministers was picketed on March 29 by the followers of the "Tevzemei un Brivibai" movement protesting against the agreements on Skrunda and pensioned Russian army officers. It was also demanded that the President of Ministers Birkavs and the Minister for Special Missions Inkens should report on the agreements. Neatkariga Cina

During his press-conference in Moscow the leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia Mr.Vladimir Zhirinovski referring to the agreement between Russia and the Baltic states promised to "dump all the agreements concluded by the current Russian Government." He also said that after he wins the election Latvia would be incorporated into the Russian Empire, while Estonia will be left Tallinn and a small island around it, and Lithuania will have Kaunas, Sauliai, and Panevezis. He added that no military action would be needed and that it would be sufficient just to cut off energy and raw material supply.

During his press-conference in Moscow the leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia Mr.Vladimir Zhirinovski referring to the agreement between Russia and the Baltic states promised to "dump all the agreements concluded by the current Russian Government." He also said that after he wins the election Latvia would be incorporated into the Russian Empire, while Estonia will be left Tallinn and a small island around it, and Lithuania will have Kaunas, Sauliai, and Panevezis. He added that no military action would be needed and that it would be sufficient just to cut off energy and raw material supply. Diena

Recommendations issued by the Commission for Citizenship Issues of the Russian President's Office support the availability of double citizenship to Russian-speaking population of Latvia and Estonia. The Commission suggests that the double-citizenship principle should be supported by mutual agreements and believes that such approach cannot be evaluated as an interference into internal affairs of a country. The recommendation says that "thousands of people in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania are deprived of citizenship which limits their political and property rights and casts doubt on their right to reside in these countries". This is the main reason for the introduction of the double-citizenship principle. The Commission also recommended the Government to insist upon the use of Russian as an international language in the information domain over the territory of the former USSR.

Recommendations issued by the Commission for Citizenship Issues of the Russian President's Office support the availability of double citizenship to Russian-speaking population of Latvia and Estonia. The Commission suggests that the double-citizenship principle should be supported by mutual agreements and believes that such approach cannot be evaluated as an interference into internal affairs of a country. The recommendation says that "thousands of people in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania are deprived of citizenship which limits their political and property rights and casts doubt on their right to reside in these countries". This is the main reason for the introduction of the double-citizenship principle. The Commission also recommended the Government to insist upon the use of Russian as an international language in the information domain over the territory of the former USSR. Diena

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia said on March 29 that though the Baltic states did not join the USSR on their free will the incorporation of those states still cannot be considered as annexion. He added that though Russia denounced the Ribbentropp-Molotov pact that "certainly included certain pressure" on the independent states the notion of "occupation" in its full meaning cannot be applied. Mr.Koziryev had a meeting with Mr.Van der Stoel on ethnic minority rights in Latvia and Estonia. Mr.Van der Stoel believes that currently there are several obstacles that should be overcome in order to resolve ethnic problems completely. On the one hand it is necessary to maintain the national identity of these sates and on the other hand to provide equal rights for the Russian population in the future. Referring to the human rights issue the Supreme Commissioner said that it would not be right to say that people were "arrested, tortured, or deported" in Estonia and Latvia. Still there are certain problems related to the legal status of the Russian-speaking population, he said. Mr.Koziryev said that all the troop withdrawal-related problems including the rights of pensioned servicemen had been resolved with Latvia and Lithuania "in a civilized manner". He also stressed that Russia would pay much attention to the rights of the Russian-speaking population after the accomplishment of the troop withdrawal.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia said on March 29 that though the Baltic states did not join the USSR on their free will the incorporation of those states still cannot be considered as annexion. He added that though Russia denounced the Ribbentropp-Molotov pact that "certainly included certain pressure" on the independent states the notion of "occupation" in its full meaning cannot be applied. Mr.Koziryev had a meeting with Mr.Van der Stoel on ethnic minority rights in Latvia and Estonia. Mr.Van der Stoel believes that currently there are several obstacles that should be overcome in order to resolve ethnic problems completely. On the one hand it is necessary to maintain the national identity of these sates and on the other hand to provide equal rights for the Russian population in the future. Referring to the human rights issue the Supreme Commissioner said that it would not be right to say that people were "arrested, tortured, or deported" in Estonia and Latvia. Still there are certain problems related to the legal status of the Russian-speaking population, he said. Mr.Koziryev said that all the troop withdrawal-related problems including the rights of pensioned servicemen had been resolved with Latvia and Lithuania "in a civilized manner". He also stressed that Russia would pay much attention to the rights of the Russian-speaking population after the accomplishment of the troop withdrawal. Diena, Labrit