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

Yesterday the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts told 

Yesterday the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts toldDiena that there is no reason to dissolve the government, although several politicians have predicted the possibility of the resignation of the government. The outcome of the today's meeting of the co-ordination council of the government forming fractions will determine the destiny of the government. Diena

There is a "certain change" in the attitude of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel, Dzintars Abikis, Chair of the Saeima Commission on Education, said after the meeting with the High Commissioner. Mr. Abikis noted that at the meeting Max van der Stoel was very tolerant and expressed his understanding of the Latvia's historical situation and Latvia’s rights to have its own language law. Besides, the High Commissioner hopes that after 20 years everybody in Latvia will know the Latvian language. It was agreed that in summer when the third reading of the State Language law is prepared in the Saeima, an OSCE expert will take part in that process, Mr. Abikis said. Yesterday the High Commissioner also met with the Speaker of the Saeima Alfreds Cepanis. During the meeting the High Commissioner expressed the worries about the slow naturalization process and the incompatibility of the draft language law with the international human right norms. The High Commissioner reminded that ignoring the recommendations of the European organizations concerning the language and citizenship might lead to the international isolation of Latvia.

There is a "certain change" in the attitude of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel, Dzintars Abikis, Chair of the Saeima Commission on Education, said after the meeting with the High Commissioner. Mr. Abikis noted that at the meeting Max van der Stoel was very tolerant and expressed his understanding of the Latvia's historical situation and Latvias rights to have its own language law. Besides, the High Commissioner hopes that after 20 years everybody in Latvia will know the Latvian language. It was agreed that in summer when the third reading of the State Language law is prepared in the Saeima, an OSCE expert will take part in that process, Mr. Abikis said. Yesterday the High Commissioner also met with the Speaker of the Saeima Alfreds Cepanis. During the meeting the High Commissioner expressed the worries about the slow naturalization process and the incompatibility of the draft language law with the international human right norms. The High Commissioner reminded that ignoring the recommendations of the European organizations concerning the language and citizenship might lead to the international isolation of Latvia. Diena, B&B

In the press statement distributed yesterday, the State President Guntis Ulmanis asks the Saeima and the government to give political assessment of the commemoration events of the Legion Day on 16 March.

In the press statement distributed yesterday, the State President Guntis Ulmanis asks the Saeima and the government to give political assessment of the commemoration events of the Legion Day on 16 March. Diena

Yesterday the movement

Yesterday the movement Lidztiesiba (Equality of Rights) organized a rally in which around 1000 people (Russian newspapers give the number of 2000 to 3000 participants) demanded to prolong the validity term of the internal USSR passports for the travelling to the CIS countries until the year of 2000. Co-ordinator of the Lidztiesiba Tatjana Zdanoka told Diena the protesters will turn to the international organizations for help. The petition with the requirements of non-citizens will be submitted to the Council of the Baltic Sea Countries, the representation of the EU, as well as other diplomatic representation of the European Union countries accredited in Latvia. The OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel also will be informed about these demands. Diena

According to the calculations of the Ministry of Economics, in the case of continuing economic sanctions of Russia against Latvia approximately 4000 thousand people working in food industry and approximately 4300 people in textile industry might lose their jobs. That, in turn, will create additional burden on the social budget of the country. Russia has started implementing economic sanctions against Latvia in the sphere of the fish industry by reducing the quotas for cod fishing in Russia's territorial waters from 500 tons to 100 tons of the fish.

According to the calculations of the Ministry of Economics, in the case of continuing economic sanctions of Russia against Latvia approximately 4000 thousand people working in food industry and approximately 4300 people in textile industry might lose their jobs. That, in turn, will create additional burden on the social budget of the country. Russia has started implementing economic sanctions against Latvia in the sphere of the fish industry by reducing the quotas for cod fishing in Russia's territorial waters from 500 tons to 100 tons of the fish. Neatkariga, SM

The Saeima Commission on Human Rights and Social Affairs rejected the proposal of the Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK to state the 16th of March as the official Legion Day.

The Saeima Commission on Human Rights and Social Affairs rejected the proposal of the Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK to state the 16th of March as the official Legion Day. Neatkariga, SM

The Russian Society in Latvia, the Russian Community in Latvia and its Daugavpils’ section ask the Saeima to take the consideration of the draft language law off the agenda of the Saeima session on April 2 due to its incompatibility with the international conventions.

The Russian Society in Latvia, the Russian Community in Latvia and its Daugavpils section ask the Saeima to take the consideration of the draft language law off the agenda of the Saeima session on April 2 due to its incompatibility with the international conventions. Panorama Latvii