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

At a press conference on Friday the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts said that he had no information at his disposal that Russia had started to implement economic sanctions against Latvia. After the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Saturday the Prime Minister expressed a hope that the new government of Russia will continue constructive relations with Latvia and find possibilities of the dialogue between two countries. At the same time according to Latvian Ambassador in Russia Imants Daudiss, the Russian Council of the Petroleum Transit has decided to decrease the petroleum transit through Ventspils (a Latvian port) for 30 percent.

At a press conference on Friday the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts said that he had no information at his disposal that Russia had started to implement economic sanctions against Latvia. After the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Saturday the Prime Minister expressed a hope that the new government of Russia will continue constructive relations with Latvia and find possibilities of the dialogue between two countries. At the same timeaccording to Latvian Ambassador in Russia Imants Daudiss, the Russian Council of the Petroleum Transit has decided to decrease the petroleum transit through Ventspils (a Latvian port) for 30 percent. Diena, Neatkariga

According to Andrejs Pantelejevs (

According to Andrejs Pantelejevs (Latvijas Cels), stability of the government depends on the meeting of the Co-operation Council of the government forming fractions on Wednesday when the amendments to the Citizenship Law will be discussed. Mr. Pantelejevs said that even if the Tevzemei un Brivibai does not support amendments, LC will submit its proposals to the Saeima, and formally it will not be the violation of the co-operation agreement of the government forming fractions. (Neatkariga, 30 March) At the meeting on Saturday the Council of the TB/LNNK decided not to give up the resolution not to amend the Citizenship Law during the mandate of this Saeima. Moreover, the TB/LNNK should work on having enough influence in the next Saeima, so that the Law would be made even more strict by introducing the annual quotas for naturalization. Diena

Neatkarigareports on the visit of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel to Latvia before the second reading of the draft Language Law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no information that during his visit the High Commissioner will submit new recommendations. Andrejs Pildegovics, Press Secretary of the MFA, said that the visit was planned at the beginning of the year, therefore the MFA does not think that it is related with the consideration of the draft language law in the Saeima, or the recent events in Riga. Neatkariga

On Saturday the Cabinet of Ministers approved the general part of the 3rd National Program on Latvia's integration into the European Union. Specific issues will be discussed at the governmental meeting on 28 April. In the program the priority is given to the integration of the society, including the speeding up of the naturalization process and increasing of possibilities to acquire the state language, as well as the economic development, and the co-ordination of the legislation.

On Saturday the Cabinet of Ministers approved the general part of the 3rd National Program on Latvia's integration into the European Union. Specific issues will be discussed at the governmental meeting on 28 April. In the program the priority is given to the integration of the society, including the speeding up of the naturalization process and increasing of possibilities to acquire the state language, as well as the economic development, and the co-ordination of the legislation.

Chas reports that although the program is approved, there is no money in the state budget for implementing it. Diena, Neatkariga

On Saturday deputies of the Moscow City Council organized a rally at the Latvian Embassy in Moscow, in which Jury Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow, gave a speech. According to Luzhkov, Russian-speaking population of Latvia has become "slaves - they cannot have private property, they are forbidden to do business, they cannot be elected in state offices, they do not have the same social rights as citizens." The Mayor of Moscow said that he had discussed with Acting Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Kirijenko the implementation of economic sanctions against Latvia and Estonia.

On Saturday deputies of the Moscow City Council organized a rally at the Latvian Embassy in Moscow, in which Jury Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow, gave a speech. According to Luzhkov, Russian-speaking population of Latvia has become "slaves - they cannot have private property, they are forbidden to do business, they cannot be elected in state offices, they do not have the same social rights as citizens." The Mayor of Moscow said that he had discussed with Acting Prime Minister of Russia Sergey Kirijenko the implementation of economic sanctions against Latvia and Estonia. Diena, Neatkariga

Last week several journalists from the Russian TV companies visited Latvia to make programs about Latvia, to meet with the Latvian journalists and officials. According to journalists, the national conflict in Latvia exists among older people, while young people support the integration process.

Last week several journalists from the Russian TV companies visited Latvia to make programs about Latvia, to meet with the Latvian journalists and officials. According to journalists, the national conflict in Latvia exists among older people, while young people support the integration process. Diena

In SM Alexander Rylov, Head of the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Latvia, answers the readers' questions about the travelling to Russia.

In SM Alexander Rylov, Head of the Consular Section of the Russian Embassy in Latvia, answers the readers' questions about the travelling to Russia. SM

The movement "Lidztiesiba" organizes a rally on 31 March to advocate the prolongation of the validity term of the former USSR passports, the freedom of locomotion, and the solution of the non-citizen problems.

The movement "Lidztiesiba" organizes a rally on 31 March to advocate the prolongation of the validity term of the former USSR passports, the freedom of locomotion, and the solution of the non-citizen problems. SM