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

A European Commission representative told

A European Commission representative told "DIENA" that the Commission would not give any further recommendations to Latvia on the Citizenship Law. The representative, who asked not to reveal his name in the press, stressed that the EU believed the issue of non-citizens to be an important problem to be resolved by Latvia in the nearest future. The EU expects Latvia to make adequate steps toward solving the problem. "DIENA" contacted other sources in the European Commission on the issue. Ms. Katherine Areskou who is responsible for European Commission information on Latvia refused to give her own opinion on the Latvian Citizenship Law and referred to Agenda 2000, the document being an official opinion of the Commission on the situation in Latvia. Ms. Areskou also added that the Citizenship Law "was a very intricate issue". "We know that the mentioning the issue causes painful reaction in Latvia. "Therefore, we shall not give any further recommendations," said Ms. Areskou. "DIENA" points to a more "liberal" approach to the problem of non-citizens displayed by the European Parliament. The EP mostly focuses on a slow naturalization rate. Diena

The

The Saeima Committee on Human Rights and Social Affairs requested the Prime-Minister to see into the problems of national cultural societies. The societies are facing financial problems and often do not have adequate premises. Chairman of the Committee Mr. Antons Seiksts believes that the current situation may lead to a negative reaction in the countries the minorities originate from. Mr. Ilmars Geige of the Ministry of Justice Department for Religious and Social Affairs admitted that cultural societies needed substantial financial support from the Government. He believes that establishing the Department for the Affairs of Nationalities and allotting additional funds to cultural societies would improve the situation. Diena

An article in

An article in "SM" claims that Latvian politicians deliberately misinform the Latvian society about Russia's reaction to Latvian citizenship policy. Although Minister of Foreign Affairs Birkavs said that Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Primakov had not paid any special attention to the problem of non-citizens during their meeting in New-York, a statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned "concern about the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia" expressed by Mr. Primakov. Russia demands for the observance of Russian-speakers' rights are based on international conventions and recommendations by international institutions. The author of the article forecasts that Russia's economic co-operation with Latvia and the Russian transit policy will fully depend on the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia. SM