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

Most likely today the Saeima will submit the draft budget for 1999 to the standing commissions for consideration, since it is supported by 5 out of 6 Saeima fractions. The only fraction which is against the submitting of the draft budget to the Saeima commission, is the fraction

Most likely today the Saeima will submit the draft budget for 1999 to the standing commissions for consideration, since it is supported by 5 out of 6 Saeima fractions. The only fraction which is against the submitting of the draft budget to the Saeima commission, is the fraction For Human Rights. The Deputy Chair of the fraction For Human Rights Janis Urbanovich told SM that the fraction has decided not to support the Prime Minister any further, since he has not fulfilled his promises and has stepped aside from the discussion about the state language and the situation in the National Human Rights Office. Neatkariga, SM

The State President Guntis Ulmanis does not agree with the conclusions about the changes in the course of the Latvian foreign policy, stated by the Jamestown Foundation. Instead of evaluating the Foundation, Latvia should prove by deeds that it consistently carries out the integration into the NATO, Mr. Ulmanis says in the distributed press statement.

The State President Guntis Ulmanis does not agree with the conclusions about the changes in the course of the Latvian foreign policy, stated by the Jamestown Foundation. Instead of evaluating the Foundation, Latvia should prove by deeds that it consistently carries out the integration into the NATO, Mr. Ulmanis says in the distributed press statement. Neatkariga

There is the lack of information about processes happening in Latvia, and the recent study by the United States Jamestown Foundation shows it, the United States Ambassador James Holmes said at the meeting with members of the US-Latvia parliamentary co-operation group. Yesterday the US Ambassador met with the chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission Guntars Krasts to discuss the draft language law. The US Ambassador remarked that the regulation of the language use in the private sphere may undermine the enterpreneurship and hinder the attracting of investments. Mr. Krasts believes that the law should balance the interests of the enterpreneurship with interests of the Latvian language.

There is the lack of information about processes happening in Latvia, and the recent study by the United States Jamestown Foundation shows it, the United States Ambassador James Holmes said at the meeting with members of the US-Latvia parliamentary co-operation group. Yesterday the US Ambassador met with the chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission Guntars Krasts to discuss the draft language law. The US Ambassador remarked that the regulation of the language use in the private sphere may undermine the enterpreneurship and hinder the attracting of investments. Mr. Krasts believes that the law should balance the interests of the enterpreneurship with interests of the Latvian language. Neatkariga, SM

Majority of the MP interviewed by the

Majority of the MP interviewed by the SM believe that on the eve of the NATO summit in Washington one might expect various provocation against Latvia. SM

Although the Latvian - Estonian agreement on facilitated border crossing for Valka - Valga residents was initialled on 27 November 1998, it is still not in force in Latvia. The Latvian Border Guards still use the old regulations providing that non-citizens may stay in the neighbouring country only for 90 days per year whereas the new regulations allow to stay for 180 days. According to the Chief of the Border Guard Valmiera Division Guntars Kamenskis, the implementation of the agreement is delayed because the Saeima has not considered the agreement, yet.

Although the Latvian - Estonian agreement on facilitated border crossing for Valka - Valga residents was initialled on 27 November 1998, it is still not in force in Latvia. The Latvian Border Guards still use the old regulations providing that non-citizens may stay in the neighbouring country only for 90 days per year whereas the new regulations allow to stay for 180 days. According to the Chief of the Border Guard Valmiera Division Guntars Kamenskis, the implementation of the agreement is delayed because the Saeima has not considered the agreement, yet. Neatkariga

Neatkarigainterviews the Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans. The main issues are the draft budget for 1999, the privatisation and the research by US Jamestown Foundation about the Latvias course to the NATO. Neatkariga

The news agency LETA informs that the Russian government has completely paid off the debt for 1998 pensions to military pensioners residing in the Baltic States.

The news agency LETA informs that the Russian government has completely paid off the debt for 1998 pensions to military pensioners residing in the Baltic States. Neatkariga

Yesterday the faction

Yesterday the faction For Fatherland and Freedom, the Naturalisation Board and the Ministry of Justice reached a compromise about the amendments to the draft regulations on the procedure of the submitting and consideration of applications for recognising a child as the Latvian citizen. According to the Minister of Justice I. Labucka, the Cabinet of Ministers might adopt the regulations already next week. Initially the Fatherland and Freedom objected to the wide range of documents which might be submitted to certify the period of residence in Latvia. Now the parties have agreed the regulations will state that the USSR passports are valid till 1 January 2000. Besides, if an applicant submits this passport, he/she will have to write a statement witnessing that he/she is not a citizen of another country. Furthermore, all parents who will apply for citizenship for their children, will be asked to present an official document certifying that during the last five years they have permanently resided in Latvia. Diena, Neatkariga

The Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported the ratification of the Protocol 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, concerning the abolition of the death penalty.

The Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported the ratification of the Protocol 6 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights, concerning the abolition of the death penalty. Diena

In order to ensure qualitative naturalisation process and prevent the violation of the Citizenship Law, the Naturalisation Board needs 15 additional staff units and additional 48,9 thousand Lats in the 1999 budget, the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane informed the members of the Saeima Commission on Human Rights. The number of applications for naturalisation has increased four times since the adoption of the Amendments to the Citizenship Law. In Riga, for example, at the moment people sign up for submitting documents in March. Ms. Aldermane noted that the Latvian Ambassador in Russia had already been asked to explain the artificial hampering of naturalisation process in Latvia.

In order to ensure qualitative naturalisation process and prevent the violation of the Citizenship Law, the Naturalisation Board needs 15 additional staff units and additional 48,9 thousand Lats in the 1999 budget, the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane informed the members of the Saeima Commission on Human Rights. The number of applications for naturalisation has increased four times since the adoption of the Amendments to the Citizenship Law. In Riga, for example, at the moment people sign up for submitting documents in March. Ms. Aldermane noted that the Latvian Ambassador in Russia had already been asked to explain the artificial hampering of naturalisation process in Latvia. Diena