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 the draft budget for 1999 was submitted to the Saeima commissions for consideration. The only fraction which was against the submission of the draft budget, was the fraction

Yesterday the draft budget for 1999 was submitted to the Saeima commissions for consideration. The only fraction which was against the submission of the draft budget, was the fraction For Human Rights. Diena

The State President submitted a draft law providing that the new State President should be elected no later that a month before the expiration of the mandate of the present President which in this case is the 7th of July. In a letter sent to the Saeima Speaker, Mr. Ulmanis says that it is important to ensure the continuity and succession of the President’s institution. There are no laws or a unified custom from the pre-war period regulating the term of election of the new president

The State President submitted a draft law providing that the new State President should be elected no later that a month before the expiration of the mandate of the present President which in this case is the 7th of July. In a letter sent to the Saeima Speaker, Mr. Ulmanis says that it is important to ensure the continuity and succession of the Presidents institution. There are no laws or a unified custom from the pre-war period regulating the term of election of the new president. Diena, B&B

Yesterday the Saeima rejected two draft laws submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister admitted that he was indignant, but “it would make the government to work in a more qualitative way.” The Prime Minister is ready to look for the support outside the coalition. The social democrats believe that now the ruling coalition and the Prime Minister will have to speed up the inclusion of the social democrats into the coalition. One of the rejected draft laws provided for the amendments to the Education Law stating that the salaries for pre-school teachers will be paid from the municipal budgets and not from the state budget.

Yesterday the Saeima rejected two draft laws submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister admitted that he was indignant, but it would make the government to work in a more qualitative way. The Prime Minister is ready to look for the support outside the coalition. The social democrats believe that now the ruling coalition and the Prime Minister will have to speed up the inclusion of the social democrats into the coalition. One of the rejected draft laws provided for the amendments to the Education Law stating that the salaries for pre-school teachers will be paid from the municipal budgets and not from the state budget. Diena

Board of the

Board of the Fatherland and Freedom recommends the party to support the invitation of the social democrat Peteris Salkazanovs to the post of the Minister of Agriculture. The final decision will be taken by the Council of the Party on Saturday, 23 January. B&B

On Wednesday the Saeima Legal Commission decided to form a sub-commission which would deal with the drafting a law on parties. One of the main issues would be the state financing of parties.

On Wednesday the Saeima Legal Commission decided to form a sub-commission which would deal with the drafting a law on parties. One of the main issues would be the state financing of parties. Diena

The Social Maintenance Section of the Russian Embassy in Latvia organized a meeting of the military pensioners to celebrate the promulgation of the year of 1999 by the UN the Year of Elderly People. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Mr. David Johnson participated in the meeting. At the meeting the participants exchanged the opinions about the situation of veterans in Latvia and denounced the expression of nationalism and Russophobia.

The Social Maintenance Section of the Russian Embassy in Latvia organized a meeting of the military pensioners to celebrate the promulgation of the year of 1999 by the UN the Year of Elderly People. The Head of the OSCE Mission to Latvia Mr. David Johnson participated in the meeting. At the meeting the participants exchanged the opinions about the situation of veterans in Latvia and denounced the expression of nationalism and Russophobia. Panorama Latvii

Seventeen thousand Latvian citizens have still not exchanged their internal USSR passports to the citizens’ passports, even though the validity term of the former USSR passports for the Latvian citizens expired on 31 December 1997. Majority of persons who have not received their citizens’ passports are born in 1960’s and 1970’. Only 6.7 % of those citizens who still possess the former USSR passports, are financially challenged persons - pensioners.

Seventeen thousand Latvian citizens have still not exchanged their internal USSR passports to the citizens passports, even though the validity term of the former USSR passports for the Latvian citizens expired on 31 December 1997. Majority of persons who have not received their citizens passports are born in 1960s and 1970. Only 6.7 % of those citizens who still possess the former USSR passports, are financially challenged persons - pensioners. Neatkariga

In the near future the Law on Status of the Politically Repressed Persons will be amended. DIENA interviews the Chair of the Commission for Assessment of Totalitarian Regime Crimes Dainis Vanags, the Chair of the Union of the Politically Repressed Persons Visvaldis Aivars, the Chair of the Public Organisation ‘Memorial” Galina Matisa, and the Chair of the Prisoners of Ghetto and Concentration Camps Alexander Bergman to assess the present situation of politically repressed persons and the draft amendments. It was stressed that the Latvian citizenship is not the obligatory requirement for granting the status of a politically repressed person.

In the near future the Law on Status of the Politically Repressed Persons will be amended. DIENA interviews the Chair of the Commission for Assessment of Totalitarian Regime Crimes Dainis Vanags, the Chair of the Union of the Politically Repressed Persons Visvaldis Aivars, the Chair of the Public Organisation ‘Memorial Galina Matisa, and the Chair of the Prisoners of Ghetto and Concentration Camps Alexander Bergman to assess the present situation of politically repressed persons and the draft amendments. It was stressed that the Latvian citizenship is not the obligatory requirement for granting the status of a politically repressed person. Diena