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 Appeal Council of Refugees Affairs has taken a decision to grant the status of a refugee to a former Sudan citizen. He has been residing in Latvia for a long time, part of it illegally and studied at Riga Aviation University. The Council has irrefutable facts that this person had been persecuted in Sudan for his political activities. This is the first case when a asylum seeker has been granted such a status. All together there are 21 persons in Latvia claiming for this status.

The Appeal Council of Refugees Affairs has taken a decision to grant the status of a refugee to a former Sudan citizen. He has been residing in Latvia for a long time, part of it illegally and studied at Riga Aviation University. The Council has irrefutable facts that this person had been persecuted in Sudan for his political activities. This is the first case when a asylum seeker has been granted such a status. All together there are 21 persons in Latvia claiming for this status. Neatkariga

Although the Saeima election is approaching, the DCMA has information that 9274 Latvian citizens have not gone to receive their Latvian citizen passports. These passports are at the DCMA offices for different reasons - the validity term of a document has expired, the document has been lost, damaged, etc. The former experience of the DCMA shows that people realise the fact of lacking the document on the very last day and then blame officials both of the poling districts and DCMA offices.

Although the Saeima election is approaching, the DCMA has information that 9274 Latvian citizens have not gone to receive their Latvian citizen passports. These passports are at the DCMA offices for different reasons - the validity term of a document has expired, the document has been lost, damaged, etc. The former experience of the DCMA shows that people realise the fact of lacking the document on the very last day and then blame officials both of the poling districts and DCMA offices. Neatkariga

Russian Embassy in Riga informed that Russia has transferred the money necessary for paying pensions to Russia military pensioners. Paying out of pensions will be started on Thursday. About 20 000 of these people, residing in Latvia, have not received pensions for more than a month. And Russia has not paid for their health care. Therefore the Minister of Well-being V.Makarovs asked the Russian Ambassador A.Udaltsov for a discussion last week during which the Ambassador promised that Russia would fulifil all its obligations towards these pensioners.

Russian Embassy in Riga informed that Russia has transferred the money necessary for paying pensions to Russia military pensioners. Paying out of pensions will be started on Thursday. About 20 000 of these people, residing in Latvia, have not received pensions for more than a month. And Russia has not paid for their health care. Therefore the Minister of Well-being V.Makarovs asked the Russian Ambassador A.Udaltsov for a discussion last week during which the Ambassador promised that Russia would fulifil all its obligations towards these pensioners. Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Panorama Latvii

Italian MFA State Secretary Piero Fasino, who has arrived to Latvia, explained the position of Italy concerning the future referendum on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship in Latvia. The State Secretary said that EU paid great attention to ethnic minorities issues in its member and candidate states. Therefore it was of a very high opinion of the amendments adopted by the Latvian Saeima. It hopes that these amendments will remain in force, but the citizenship law is a sovereign right of every country. But if a EU candidate state adopts a law corresponding to EU standards, it would favor moving of this country towards EU. It the referendum were in favor of these amendments, Latvian dialog with Brussels would be easier.

Italian MFA State Secretary Piero Fasino, who has arrived to Latvia, explained the position of Italy concerning the future referendum on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship in Latvia. The State Secretary said that EU paid great attention to ethnic minorities issues in its member and candidate states. Therefore it was of a very high opinion of the amendments adopted by the Latvian Saeima. It hopes that these amendments will remain in force, but the citizenship law is a sovereign right of every country. But if a EU candidate state adopts a law corresponding to EU standards, it would favor moving of this country towards EU. It the referendum were in favor of these amendments, Latvian dialog with Brussels would be easier. Neatkariga, Chas

The leaders of

The leaders of Latvijas Cels, Tevzemei un Brivibai/LNNK and New Party acknowledged yesterday that they planned next Wednesday to discuss a possibility to form the next government, to evaluate the possibilities of co-operation, as well as evaluate the similarities and differences of their positions. The Deputy Chairman of TB/LNNK J.Dobelis said that , before the election, just general consultations were possible, but no talks on forming an exact model of coalition or exact persons. Dobelis characterized the initiative of New Party as ridiculous. In his turn, the representative of Peoples Party J.Legzdins called this meeting as a move in the pre-election campaign that has nothing in common with forming a real government after the election. The head of the faction of Democratic Party Saimnieks E.Jurkans called this meeting a warm-up before the real discussion, and in reality it was just a pre-election trick of New Party. The representative of PP J.Liepnieks, when asked about their possible co-operation with New Party, answered that forming of the new government would not be the business of New Party. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Lauku Avize

It is envisaged that Estonian Parliament will continue consideration of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship (which would grant citizenship to the children of non-citizens, who are born in independent Estonia) after the referendum on the amendments to the Law on Citizenship in Latvia. The Chairman of the Constitutional Commission M.Nut told

Diena that deputies might submit their proposals till September 17 to the Commission, and they were planned to be considered at the next sitting of the Commission. M.Nut did not acknowledge any ties between this discussion with Latvian referendum but did not exclude that the outcome of the referendum could influence the procedure of considering this law. Diena

Diena

commentator A.Ozolins writes about the situation with the initiative of New Party to form the new government. He considers that New Party itself has to worry about getting elected to the Saeima and Slesers has no hope to become the next Prime Minister. The present attempt to form a post-election coalition is due to other reason - money. And the holder of it is the Mayor of Venspils A.Lembergs, a possible candidate to the post of the Prime Minister. And the reason for this manipulation is tiny - Lembergs is afraid of A.Skele becoming the Prime Minister. A.Ozolins evaluates the possible candidates to the post of the Prime Minister and considers A.Skele the least of all evils. Diena

The commentator of Jauna Avize G.Kokars also deals with the same problem but only from the different end - who will be in the opposition. These are social democrats, for sure but it is doubtful that they could form a coalition with Peoples Harmony Party. Another candidate for opposition could be A.Skele with his Peoples Party. Jauna Avize

The director of the State Language Training Program A.Priedite tells about the activities of this project. They have two major directions - to prepare such a Latvian language training program that could ensure Russian speaking students to continue their in the Latvian language studies also in higher education institutions and preparing teachers of the Latvian language as the second language for work in Russian schools. Now they are busy preparing courses foe Russian speaking teachers to improve their Latvian language skills. Groups are formed so that lessons take place within one concrete school - both “students” and teachers are from the same school. Now there are about 100 of such groups. Great interest about studying the Latvian language is in Latgale. In addition to those teacher groups there about 50 professional groups of medical workers, policemen, border guards, railwaymen, even prison personnel. There is also an initiative in Liepaja and Ludza that, if an unemployed person works for the city council for 60 hours he or she is offered a chance to take a 60 hours course of the Latvian language.

The director of the State Language Training Program A.Priedite tells about the activities of this project. They have two major directions - to prepare such a Latvian language training program that could ensure Russian speaking students to continue their in the Latvian language studies also in higher education institutions and preparing teachers of the Latvian language as the second language for work in Russian schools. Now they are busy preparing courses foe Russian speaking teachers to improve their Latvian language skills. Groups are formed so that lessons take place within one concrete school - both students and teachers are from the same school. Now there are about 100 of such groups. Great interest about studying the Latvian language is in Latgale. In addition to those teacher groups there about 50 professional groups of medical workers, policemen, border guards, railwaymen, even prison personnel. There is also an initiative in Liepaja and Ludza that, if an unemployed person works for the city council for 60 hours he or she is offered a chance to take a 60 hours course of the Latvian language. Jauna Avize

Chas writes about the situation with the Latvian language in Daugavpils. 1500 teachers have passed the Latvian language test, and only 38 people have to take a repeated test. Nobody has been officially fired for not knowing the Latvian language. Russian speakers in Daugavpils are ready to learn the state language, but why they need to close down Russian schools? They just need financing from the government and some interest. People of the city have decided to try to solve the problem. They have organised Centre of Learning the Latvian language to assist both students and teachers, but they lack money. At the same time UNDP program plans to open another centre, financed and controlled from the capital, bypassing the local municipality. Local people disagree with such a situation. And receiving of this money depends if EU likes the outcome f the referendum in Latvia.

Chas writes about the situation with the Latvian language in Daugavpils. 1500 teachers have passed the Latvian language test, and only 38 people have to take a repeated test. Nobody has been officially fired for not knowing the Latvian language. Russian speakers in Daugavpils are ready to learn the state language, but why they need to close down Russian schools? They just need financing from the government and some interest. People of the city have decided to try to solve the problem. They have organised Centre of Learning the Latvian language to assist both students and teachers, but they lack money. At the same time UNDP program plans to open another centre, financed and controlled from the capital, bypassing the local municipality. Local people disagree with such a situation. And receiving of this money depends if EU likes the outcome f the referendum in Latvia.

Community of Russians in Latvia organises a public opinion poll on the situation with democracy in Latvia. They published the questionnaire with 4 questions asking people to give their opinion on this issue.

Community of Russians in Latvia organises a public opinion poll on the situation with democracy in Latvia. They published the questionnaire with 4 questions asking people to give their opinion on this issue. Panorama Latvii