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 Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs will participate in two day meeting of the Foreign Affairs ministers of the OSCE member states in Oslo. Mr. Birkavs plans to use this meeting to convince European politicians during the EU meeting in December to set a certain date for the EU accession talks with Latvia.

The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs will participate in two day meeting of the Foreign Affairs ministers of the OSCE member states in Oslo. Mr. Birkavs plans to use this meeting to convince European politicians during the EU meeting in December to set a certain date for the EU accession talks with Latvia. B&B

According to Janis Kahanovics, a deputy director of the Naturalisation Board, most active applicants for the naturalisation are people of the age from 41 to 50. Statistics show that the activity of the non-citizens residing in Riga is 1.3%, in Saldus region - 4%, Gulbene region - 3.6%, in Daugavpils - 3.2%. At the moment, the Naturalisation Board technically can review no more than 10-12 thousand applications per year. Mr. Kahanovics hopes that the European Union will assist with funding for computerisation of all NB regional divisions which would increase efficiency of a review process. Then, the Naturalisation Board would be able to review 20-25 thousand applications per year.

According to Janis Kahanovics, a deputy director of the Naturalisation Board, most active applicants for the naturalisation are people of the age from 41 to 50. Statistics show that the activity of the non-citizens residing in Riga is 1.3%, in Saldus region - 4%, Gulbene region - 3.6%, in Daugavpils - 3.2%. At the moment, the Naturalisation Board technically can review no more than 10-12 thousand applications per year. Mr. Kahanovics hopes that the European Union will assist with funding for computerisation of all NB regional divisions which would increase efficiency of a review process. Then, the Naturalisation Board would be able to review 20-25 thousand applications per year. Rigas Balss

The Saeima Presidium received an application from the fraction of the

The Saeima Presidium received an application from the fraction of the Peoples Harmony Party in which the fraction informs that now it will be called the fraction of Union of Political Organisations For Human Rights in United Latvia. Chas

Approximately 18 thousand citizens have not exchanged their old Soviet passports to the citizen passports, Deputy Director of the DCMA A. Lejins informed the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Citizenship Law. There are several reasons for that, for instance, some poeple do not have 5 Lats to pay office fee, while others do not really need a passport. According to the information provided by the DCMA, the worst situation is in the Latgale District of Riga City where 3138 citizens still hold USSR passports.

Approximately 18 thousand citizens have not exchanged their old Soviet passports to the citizen passports, Deputy Director of the DCMA A. Lejins informed the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Citizenship Law. There are several reasons for that, for instance, some poeple do not have 5 Lats to pay office fee, while others do not really need a passport. According to the information provided by the DCMA, the worst situation is in the Latgale District of Riga City where 3138 citizens still hold USSR passports. Panorama Latvii

In order to inform residents of rural areas about the human rights, the Centre of Non-Governmental Organisations starts to implement a new project. In NGO support centres in eight towns (Talsi, Liepaja, Tukums, Jelgava, Jekabpils, Daugavpils, Cesis and Aluksne) co-ordinators of human rights issues will provide any person or organisation with local and international human rights documents, and information about ways to solve the human rights problems in Latvia and other countries. The NGO centre also plans to organise 27 seminars on human rights issues. The financing of this project for 8 months comes from the Soros Fund-Latvia. 

In order to inform residents of rural areas about the human rights, the Centre of Non-Governmental Organisations starts to implement a new project. In NGO support centres in eight towns (Talsi, Liepaja, Tukums, Jelgava, Jekabpils, Daugavpils, Cesis and Aluksne) co-ordinators of human rights issues will provide any person or organisation with local and international human rights documents, and information about ways to solve the human rights problems in Latvia and other countries. The NGO centre also plans to organise 27 seminars on human rights issues. The financing of this project for 8 months comes from the Soros Fund-Latvia.Diena

Nikolay Kabanov in an article for the SM analyses the Latvian -Russian relations during last three years. The author compares Latvia with Finland after the World War II and argues that it represents a country of limited sovereignty. He basis this argument on the fact that Latvia’s economy is built on the oil transit from Russia. According to Mr. Kabanov, the Russian-Latvian relations started to deteriorate after inclusion of the representatives of the national radical party “

Nikolay Kabanov in an article for the SM analyses the Latvian -Russian relations during last three years. The author compares Latvia with Finland after the World War II and argues that it represents a country of limited sovereignty. He basis this argument on the fact that Latvias economy is built on the oil transit from Russia. According to Mr. Kabanov, the Russian-Latvian relations started to deteriorate after inclusion of the representatives of the national radical party For Fatherland and Freedom into the government. SM