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

Press Review

The top news in all newspapers is the dismissal of Russian government. They name it differently, e.g.

The top news in all newspapers is the dismissal of Russian government. They name it differently, e.g. Jauna Avize calls it a coup détat, Neatkariga - rapid change, SM - revolution on the top, Chas - the second defeat of the White House, etc.

Latvian officials are cautious to overestimate these events, but the State President Ulmanis has summoned a meeting of the National Security Council on March 25. They plan to listen to the analysis of these events and also reports of the “competent” services. The main issue could be what was to be expected from the new government. The President did not want to comment the very dismissal and just said that he had been surprised by the fastness of this event.” Most of Latvian MPs were not ready to comment but the willing ones did not expect radical changes in the Latvian-Russian relations.

Latvian officials are cautious to overestimate these events, but the State President Ulmanis has summoned a meeting of the National Security Council on March 25. They plan to listen to the analysis of these events and also reports of the competent services. The main issue could be what was to be expected from the new government. The President did not want to comment the very dismissal and just said that he had been surprised by the fastness of this event. Most of Latvian MPs were not ready to comment but the willing ones did not expect radical changes in the Latvian-Russian relations. Bizness I Baltiya, Diena, Chas, SM, Panorama Latvii 24.03.

Latvian version of

Latvian version of Diena writes about a new integration program for people of other nationalities in Estonia. The Estonian government has collected all proposals from its ministries and is ready to finish elaboration of a more concrete integration program. As it was reported earlier, the government adopted the basic integration concepts at the end of February this year. They even plan to organise the Integration Fund to achieve the goals of this program.

On March 24, the Cabinet of Ministers will discuss the proposal of the Naturalisation Board to extend the validity term of former USSR travel passports till October 31, 1998. Currently, DCMA is busy to overcome bottle necks and normalise the procedure of issuing non-citizens passports. It would be a little easement for aliens residing in Latvia to extend the validity term for crossing Latvian borders with former USSR travel passports. Even two versions for solving this problem have been submitted.

On March 24, the Cabinet of Ministers will discuss the proposal of the Naturalisation Board to extend the validity term of former USSR travel passports till October 31, 1998. Currently, DCMA is busy to overcome bottle necks and normalise the procedure of issuing non-citizens passports. It would be a little easement for aliens residing in Latvia to extend the validity term for crossing Latvian borders with former USSR travel passports. Even two versions for solving this problem have been submitted. Jauna Avize 24.03.

Another picket took place at the Latvian Consulate in Pskov. During it a poster in Latvian colours was burned once again. Latvian officials consider that such things could take place only due to passiveness of Russian authorities, because Russia has not expressed its opinion towards such activities directed against Latvian consulates in Russia.

Another picket took place at the Latvian Consulate in Pskov. During it a poster in Latvian colours was burned once again. Latvian officials consider that such things could take place only due to passiveness of Russian authorities, because Russia has not expressed its opinion towards such activities directed against Latvian consulates in Russia. Neatkariga, Chas, Bizness I Baltiya 24.03

Chas also informs about two pickets at the Russia Embassy in Riga planned to commemorate the day of victims of Communist atrocities. The pickets will be held by two nationally oriented political movements Namejs and Nationalie Daugavas Vanagi (National Hawks of the Daugava).

Chas also informs about two pickets at the Russia Embassy in Riga planned to commemorate the day of victims of Communist atrocities. The pickets will be held by two nationally oriented political movements Namejs and Nationalie Daugavas Vanagi (National Hawks of the Daugava). SM writes that there will be even four pickets and one marching of a brass band.

SM

writes about a document of the US National Department Press Office with their answers to questions concerning the events in Latvia. The Department has no information on arrests, bodily injuries. There have been no claims or objections from Latvian Human Rights Office, and there is no evidence of mass human rights violations by the authorities, as well as that it could be a Russian provocation. When asked about their opinion on the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia, the answer was that they were glad for all achievements of Latvia on its way to integration of the society. Many organisations collecting information, as well as OSCE, had proven that there are no mass human rights violations in Latvia. writes about a document of the US National Department Press Office with their answers to questions concerning the events in Latvia. The Department has no information on arrests, bodily injuries. There have been no claims or objections from Latvian Human Rights Office, and there is no evidence of mass human rights violations by the authorities, as well as that it could be a Russian provocation. When asked about their opinion on the situation of Russian-speakers in Latvia, the answer was that they were glad for all achievements of Latvia on its way to integration of the society. Many organisations collecting information, as well as OSCE, had proven that there are no mass human rights violations in Latvia.