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

It is planned that today the Saeima will adopt the national budget of 1999 in the final reading.

It is planned that today the Saeima will adopt the national budget of 1999 in the final reading. B&B

Taking into consideration the intensified public interest about the 16 of March, yesterday the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of the Procurator General, the Constitution Defence Bureau, the Ministry of Defence and other security institutions formed a special working group which main task is to prevent any activities against the public safety.

Taking into consideration the intensified public interest about the 16 of March, yesterday the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of the Procurator General, the Constitution Defence Bureau, the Ministry of Defence and other security institutions formed a special working group which main task is to prevent any activities against the public safety. Diena

Mavriks Vulfsons calls the State President, the Prime Minister and the Saeima to use their rights of the legislative initiative to “transfer the Latvian Soldiers’ Commemoration Day” to the 11th of November - the traditionally celebrated Lacplesa Day.

Mavriks Vulfsons calls the State President, the Prime Minister and the Saeima to use their rights of the legislative initiative to transfer the Latvian Soldiers Commemoration Day to the 11th of November - the traditionally celebrated Lacplesa Day. Diena

Yesterday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported the ratification of the Protocol 6 of the European Human Rights Convention abolishing the death penalty, in the final reading in the Saeima. The Commission rejected the proposal to postpone the Protocol’s coming into the force until 2001 or until the Latvia’s accession to the European Union. It is planned that the ratification might take place around the Easter.

Yesterday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported the ratification of the Protocol 6 of the European Human Rights Convention abolishing the death penalty, in the final reading in the Saeima. The Commission rejected the proposal to postpone the Protocols coming into the force until 2001 or until the Latvias accession to the European Union. It is planned that the ratification might take place around the Easter. Diena

The Latvian government has decided to allocate 25 thousand US dollars for the Fund of the Holocaust victims established in 1997 in London. The Press Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Toms Baumanis said that this move symbolises the Latvian government’s and people’s understanding of the WW II tragedy.

The Latvian government has decided to allocate 25 thousand US dollars for the Fund of the Holocaust victims established in 1997 in London. The Press Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Affairs Ministry Toms Baumanis said that this move symbolises the Latvian governments and peoples understanding of the WW II tragedy. Diena, B&B

Yesterday after the meeting of the governmental coalition the Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans informed the journalist that the CM believes that the Director of the Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers does not comply with the work duties, and therefore the Saeima will have to decide on the change of the Office leadership. The Social Democrats has already named Ineta Ziemele, Director of the LU Human Rights Institute as a candidate for the post of the NHRO Director

Yesterday after the meeting of the governmental coalition the Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans informed the journalist that the CM believes that the Director of the Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers does not comply with the work duties, and therefore the Saeima will have to decide on the change of the Office leadership. The Social Democrats has already named Ineta Ziemele, Director of the LU Human Rights Institute as a candidate for the post of the NHRO Director. Diena, B&B

Yesterday the fraction For Human Rights met with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane to talk about the discrepancies between the provisions of the Citizenship Law and the Regulations on Naturalisation. The Law on Citizenship state that the applicant should be provided with the response not later than one year after the submission date of all documents, while the Regulations on Naturalisation state the application shall be reviewed and the response provided within one year after passing the examinations. As MP Boris Tsilevich said, Ms. Aldermane’s arguments were not convincing enough. MP Tsilevich thinks that the discrepancies between regulations and the law allow the officials to take the arbitrary decisions .

Yesterday the fraction For Human Rights met with the Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane to talk about the discrepancies between the provisions of the Citizenship Law and the Regulations on Naturalisation. The Law on Citizenship state that the applicant should be provided with the response not later than one year after the submission date of all documents, while the Regulations on Naturalisation state the application shall be reviewed and the response provided within one year after passing the examinations. As MP Boris Tsilevich said, Ms. Aldermanes arguments were not convincing enough. MP Tsilevich thinks that the discrepancies between regulations and the law allow the officials to take the arbitrary decisions . B&B, Neatkariga

Commenting the visit of the Vice Speaker of the Russian Duma Sergey Baburin to Latvia, the SM journalist Nikolay Kabanov states Latvia has a characteristic to show the highest confidence in relations with any foreign visitor. According to Mr. Kabanov, the central issue of the Latvian-Russian relation is the transit business, and it is more important for Latvia to have a modest talk with the Ministers of Energetic or of Transportation rather than with one of several Vice-speakers of the Russian Duma.

Commenting the visit of the Vice Speaker of the Russian Duma Sergey Baburin to Latvia, the SM journalist Nikolay Kabanov states Latvia has a characteristic to show the highest confidence in relations with any foreign visitor. According to Mr. Kabanov, the central issue of the Latvian-Russian relation is the transit business, and it is more important for Latvia to have a modest talk with the Ministers of Energetic or of Transportation rather than with one of several Vice-speakers of the Russian Duma. SM

The Head of the State Language Inspectorate Maris Birzgalis thinks that those 284 false certificates about the state language proficiency which held by the educators which were found some time ago, is only visible part of the iceberg, therefore the Inspectorate continues examining the documents held by the teachers.

The Head of the State Language Inspectorate Maris Birzgalis thinks that those 284 false certificates about the state language proficiency which held by the educators which were found some time ago, is only visible part of the iceberg, therefore the Inspectorate continues examining the documents held by the teachers. Rigas Balss