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

Yesterday at the plenary meeting of the Saeima, the deputies elected the composition of 16 Saeima commissions. The parties represented in the Saeima got seats according to the number of their members in the parliament. Six of these commissions hold their first meeting already yesterday and elected their chairmen. Former Finance Minister R.Zile was elected to lead the Budget and Finances Commission, G.Krasts became the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission, A.Seile would head the Commission of National Economy, Agriculture, Environment and Regional environment, A.Seiks would continue his work in the Human Rights Commission but Dz.Abikis in the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science. State Administration and Municipality Commission would be chaired by K.Greiskalns.

Yesterday at the plenary meeting of the Saeima, the deputies elected the composition of 16 Saeima commissions. The parties represented in the Saeima got seats according to the number of their members in the parliament. Six of these commissions hold their first meeting already yesterday and elected their chairmen. Former Finance Minister R.Zile was elected to lead the Budget and Finances Commission, G.Krasts became the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission, A.Seile would head the Commission of National Economy, Agriculture, Environment and Regional environment, A.Seiks would continue his work in the Human Rights Commission but Dz.Abikis in the Saeima Commission on Education, Culture and Science. State Administration and Municipality Commission would be chaired by K.Greiskalns. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Panorama Latvii, Bizness & Baltiya

The proposal of the candidate to the post of the Prime Minister V.Kristopans made on Tuesday to

The proposal of the candidate to the post of the Prime Minister V.Kristopans made on Tuesday to Peoples Party to take three minister positions in his government ended with a conflict between the leader of Peoples Party A.Skele and V.Kristopans. Both politicians interpreted this proposal differently. V.Kristopans explained journalists that he had just proposed to Peoples Party to take three minister posts not excluding a possibility to sign a coalition agreement some time later, but A.Skele stressed that unwillingness of V.Kristopans to give a direct answer to the question whether Peoples Party would be an equal partner in the coalition showed that V.Kristopans was just performing. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize, Rigas Balss, Chas, SM

Adoption of the amendments to the Law on Citizenship has causes a real explosion of interest for naturalisation - during the first day the law took effect there were more applications than in a month before it. According to the data of the Naturalisation Board these are people who did not have the right to naturalise due to the window mechanism - mostly representatives of intelligence: physicians and others who have received their education in the Latvian language and speak good Latvian.

Diena visited several Naturalisation Board offices and interviewed people there. They had different opinions about the level of difficulty of naturalisation tests and about the political situation in Latvia. Diena

Rigas Balss

interviewed V.Kristopans about the process of forming the new government, principles of co-operation among coalition parties and seeking for the fourth coalition member. He promised that there would be a new government in Latvia on November 26.

Aija Priedite, Director of the National Language training Programme, tells about the activities of the Programme, Latvian language text books they have prepared for non-Latvians and speaks about the role of Ministry of Education and Science in the language training process. Rigas Balss

Composer R.Pauls, after his return from Moscow, announced that he would think about his running for presidency after the new government was formed.

Composer R.Pauls, after his return from Moscow, announced that he would think about his running for presidency after the new government was formed. Chas