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 Friday a group of people took part in a picket at the European Commission Delegation to Latvia to express their protest against any changes in the Citizenship Law that would soften requirements for citizenship. Participants of the picket also went to the OSCE Mission to Latvia where they were met by the Deputy Head of Mission Falk Lange who received the resolutions of the picket and promised to provide an answer. In a talk with

On Friday a group of people took part in a picket at the European Commission Delegation to Latvia to express their protest against any changes in the Citizenship Law that would soften requirements for citizenship. Participants of the picket also went to the OSCE Mission to Latvia where they were met by the Deputy Head of Mission Falk Lange who received the resolutions of the picket and promised to provide an answer. In a talk with Jauna Avize, Mr. Lange refused to comment on the handed resolutions, and noted that this would not be the right place where to protest against the amendments to the Citizenship Law." Jauna Avize

On Friday representatives of the business organizations met with officials of the Welfare Ministry, Ministry of Economics and Ministry of Regional Development to discuss the economic situation in the country. Business representatives noted that until now, two months after the beginning of disagreements between Latvia and Russia, ministries only have tried to define the amount of the economic sanctions, and nothing really has been done. The business representatives will ask the government to do everything to improve the internal situation in the country and to ensure the stable environment for the businesses.

On Friday representatives of the business organizations met with officials of the Welfare Ministry, Ministry of Economics and Ministry of Regional Development to discuss the economic situation in the country. Business representatives noted that until now, two months after the beginning of disagreements between Latvia and Russia, ministries only have tried to define the amount of the economic sanctions, and nothing really has been done. The business representatives will ask the government to do everything to improve the internal situation in the country and to ensure the stable environment for the businesses. Diena

On Saturday the Council of the

On Saturday the Council of the Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK party decided to support the submission of the amendments to the Citizenship adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers, to the Saeima Committees. The Council also decided that any amendments providing for the speeding up of the naturalization process can come into affect only one year after their adoption. After the meeting the Prime Minister Guntars Krasts said that he would propose to the government to create a new office - State Minister on Social Integration - in order to form a clear understanding about the integration process. Diena

At the meeting last Wednesday representatives of the Nationality Council decided within 10 days to prepare their own proposals for the social integration program and to submit them to the governmental work group and the State President.

At the meeting last Wednesday representatives of the Nationality Council decided within 10 days to prepare their own proposals for the social integration program and to submit them to the governmental work group and the State President. Diena

The

The Latvijas Cels has nominated its candidates for the vacant offices of the Minister of the Interior, Minister of Science and Education, and the State Minister on Municipalities. The Latvijas Cels will also ask the Prime Minister to restore the post of the State Minister on Forestry. Neatkariga

Panorama Latvii publishes an interview with the deputy of the Russian Duma (Parliament) Vladimir Nikitin in which he stresses that Russia does not ask from Latvia anything extraordinary, just to implement the requirements of the international experts. Panorama Latvii

An association of schools with Russian as the language of instruction was founded in Riga on Saturday. The participants of the founding conference passed a resolution to be submitted to the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel, the Council of the Baltic Sea, and the Russian government, in which they ask the international experts evaluate the Draft Education Law.

An association of schools with Russian as the language of instruction was founded in Riga on Saturday. The participants of the founding conference passed a resolution to be submitted to the OSCE High Commissioner Max van der Stoel, the Council of the Baltic Sea, and the Russian government, in which they ask the international experts evaluate the Draft Education Law. Neatkariga