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

The date of the meeting of the presidents of Latvia and Russia will depend on the date of the accomplishment of the negotiations over the agreement on social guarantees for Russian pensioned officers, said the Head of the Russian delegation Mr.Zotov. Still, according to the Deputy-Head of the Latvian delegation Mr.Virsis the result achieved by the expert groups will not determine the date of the meeting. Mr.Zotov said that Russian side would take into consideration several proposals put forward by Latvia and try to find suitable compromises. Still, according to ITAR-TASS Mr.Zotov stated on Tuesday that Russia would probably suspend the troop withdrawal in case the agreement were not signed before mid-May.

The date of the meeting of the presidents of Latvia and Russia will depend on the date of the accomplishment of the negotiations over the agreement on social guarantees for Russian pensioned officers, said the Head of the Russian delegation Mr.Zotov. Still, according to the Deputy-Head of the Latvian delegation Mr.Virsis the result achieved by the expert groups will not determine the date of the meeting. Mr.Zotov said that Russian side would take into consideration several proposals put forward by Latvia and try to find suitable compromises. Still, according to ITAR-TASS Mr.Zotov stated on Tuesday that Russia would probably suspend the troop withdrawal in case the agreement were not signed before mid-May. Diena, Labrit

President Ulmanis has received a letter from the Chancellor of Germany Mr.Köhl in support of the signing of the agreements with Russia. During his meeting with German Ambassador Mr.Ulmanis named Saturday this week as a possible day of his visit to Russia. He also mentioned the amendments to be introduced into the agreement on pensioned officers.

President Ulmanis has received a letter from the Chancellor of Germany Mr.Köhl in support of the signing of the agreements with Russia. During his meeting with German Ambassador Mr.Ulmanis named Saturday this week as a possible day of his visit to Russia. He also mentioned the amendments to be introduced into the agreement on pensioned officers. Labrit

On April 27 during a plenary meeting of the Saeima the Procurator General Janis Skrastins officially named the five Saeima deputies mentioned in the KGB agent files. The Saeima has to choose between two options. First option is to wait until the adoption of the law on the use of the KGB documents which will be the basis of a court decision on the annulment of deputy mandates. Other option is to annul the mandates upon by a Saeima decree in accordance with Article 18 of Satversme. Mr.Inkens informed the Saeima that he had applied for a suspension of his activities as a minister until the court decision is made. He is ready to take the post again if proved innocent. According to unofficial information Mr.Andreyevs have already asked for resignation. "Latvijas Cels", "Tevzemei un Brivibai", "Ravnopraviye", and Democratic party do not agree to annul the mandates without having sufficient proofs of the involvement of the deputies with the KGB. It was also suggested that the mandates could be suspended though such decision contradicts Satversme.

On April 27 during a plenary meeting of the Saeima the Procurator General Janis Skrastins officially named the five Saeima deputies mentioned in the KGB agent files. The Saeima has to choose between two options. First option is to wait until the adoption of the law on the use of the KGB documents which will be the basis of a court decision on the annulment of deputy mandates. Other option is to annul the mandates upon by a Saeima decree in accordance with Article 18 of Satversme. Mr.Inkens informed the Saeima that he had applied for a suspension of his activities as a minister until the court decision is made. He is ready to take the post again if proved innocent. According to unofficial information Mr.Andreyevs have already asked for resignation. "Latvijas Cels", "Tevzemei un Brivibai", "Ravnopraviye", and Democratic party do not agree to annul the mandates without having sufficient proofs of the involvement of the deputies with the KGB. It was also suggested that the mandates could be suspended though such decision contradicts Satversme. Labrit, Diena

The Deputy-Head of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Indulis Berzins in his interview for LABRIT stated that LNNK and other nationalist political organizations tried to benefit from the KGB scandal and cause a government crisis which would result in agreements with Russia not being signed, the citizenship law not being adopted, and extraordinary elections being held.

The Deputy-Head of the "Latvijas Cels" fraction Indulis Berzins in his interview for LABRIT stated that LNNK and other nationalist political organizations tried to benefit from the KGB scandal and cause a government crisis which would result in agreements with Russia not being signed, the citizenship law not being adopted, and extraordinary elections being held. Labrit