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 State President Guntis Ulmanis admits that it was his and the Saeima’s mistake to declare the 16th of March as an official commemoration day and believes that next year it will not be observed. During the interview for the Latvian Radio on Monday the State President said that at the meetings with different soldiers’ organization registered in Latvia, almost a half of them expressed unwillingness to observe this date. Mr. Ulmanis calls people not to organise mass meetings at this day this year.

The State President Guntis Ulmanis admits that it was his and the Saeimas mistake to declare the 16th of March as an official commemoration day and believes that next year it will not be observed. During the interview for the Latvian Radio on Monday the State President said that at the meetings with different soldiers organization registered in Latvia, almost a half of them expressed unwillingness to observe this date. Mr. Ulmanis calls people not to organise mass meetings at this day this year. Diena, Neatkariga, B&B

The deputies from the social democrats fraction submitted the amendments to the Article 109 of the Satversme (Constitution) The social democrats suggest to state the Article as follows: “Everyone shall have the right to sufficient food, clothing, and housing, as well as to social security in the case of old age, inability to work, unemployment, and in other cases provided by other laws.”

The deputies from the social democrats fraction submitted the amendments to the Article 109 of the Satversme (Constitution) The social democrats suggest to state the Article as follows: Everyone shall have the right to sufficient food, clothing, and housing, as well as to social security in the case of old age, inability to work, unemployment, and in other cases provided by other laws. Diena, Neatkariga

Even after four murders in the Gulbene kindergarten the State President Guntis Ulmanis supports the abolishment of the death penalty.

Even after four murders in the Gulbene kindergarten the State President Guntis Ulmanis supports the abolishment of the death penalty. Diena

Regardless of the Riga City Council’s refusal to issue a permit to have a picket on the 16th of March, the Russian Society in Latvia will organise one to protest against this date and the marching of the legionnaires, the President of the Russian Society G.Astahov told

Regardless of the Riga City Councils refusal to issue a permit to have a picket on the 16th of March, the Russian Society in Latvia will organise one to protest against this date and the marching of the legionnaires, the President of the Russian Society G.Astahov told Panorama Latvii.

Panorama Latvii begins to publish the questions with the correct answers to the naturalisation examination about the Latvian history.

The deputy of the fraction For Human Rights Y. Sokolovsky comments the amendments to the Law on Entry and Residence of the Foreign Citizens and the Stateless Persons in Latvia reviewed by the Saeima Legal Commission last week. The faction had submitted the amendments providing the possibility for elderly parents to reunite with their children who are residents of Latvia, as well as the opportunity for the children who were born and resided in Latvia for more than 10 years to come to live here. These amendments, however, were rejected by the commission.

The deputy of the fraction For Human Rights Y. Sokolovsky comments the amendments to the Law on Entry and Residence of the Foreign Citizens and the Stateless Persons in Latvia reviewed by the Saeima Legal Commission last week. The faction had submitted the amendments providing the possibility for elderly parents to reunite with their children who are residents of Latvia, as well as the opportunity for the children who were born and resided in Latvia for more than 10 years to come to live here. These amendments, however, were rejected by the commission. Panorama Latvii

Commenting the Draft Emigration Law adopted by the Saeima in the first reading, 

Commenting the Draft Emigration Law adopted by the Saeima in the first reading,Chas states that the law contradicts with, at least, two international human rights documents ratified by Latvia - the UN Universal Human Rights Declaration and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights providing that everyone is free to leave any country, including his/her own. The Draft Emigration Law provides that in order to leave Latvia, a person should receive a permission to leave. Boris Tsilevich (For Human Rights) one of the opponents of the law thinks that the drfat law in the present version is an input into the building of the police state. Chas

Yesterday the Latvian side of the Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission met to discuss the letter of the Russian Ambassador in Latvia A. Udalcov calling the experts of both countries from the social and humanitarian affairs committee to meet next week. Latvia thinks that the whole commission should resume the work, particularly activating the work of those expert groups which have prepared agreements to be signed.

Yesterday the Latvian side of the Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission met to discuss the letter of the Russian Ambassador in Latvia A. Udalcov calling the experts of both countries from the social and humanitarian affairs committee to meet next week. Latvia thinks that the whole commission should resume the work, particularly activating the work of those expert groups which have prepared agreements to be signed. Neatkariga

The Riga City Council Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Committee reviewed the information provided by the State Language Inspectorate about 124 cases when the false state language proficiency certificates were stated in the Riga City in 1998. Last year the observance of the Language Law was checked in 1785 institutions, organisations, enterprises and companies in Riga. The state language proficiency of 4765 persons who are the subjects to the state language examination, was checked, but in 653 cases the state language proficiency certificates and legality of their obtaining, were investigated.

The Riga City Council Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Committee reviewed the information provided by the State Language Inspectorate about 124 cases when the false state language proficiency certificates were stated in the Riga City in 1998. Last year the observance of the Language Law was checked in 1785 institutions, organisations, enterprises and companies in Riga. The state language proficiency of 4765 persons who are the subjects to the state language examination, was checked, but in 653 cases the state language proficiency certificates and legality of their obtaining, were investigated. Neatkariga

G. Evdakimov, the SM journalist, analyses Latvia’s chance to join the NATO, and concludes that since Russia has the strong position against the Baltic States joining the alliance (for rational and irrational reasons), and since the NATO will not try to test the Russia’s patience, Latvia will not be accepted to the organisation.

G. Evdakimov, the SM journalist, analyses Latvias chance to join the NATO, and concludes that since Russia has the strong position against the Baltic States joining the alliance (for rational and irrational reasons), and since the NATO will not try to test the Russias patience, Latvia will not be accepted to the organisation. SM

The Baltic Data House survey on the factors promoting the political participation in Latvia shows that only every sixth resident of Latvia believes that he/she can influence the decisions taken by the government and is ready to protest against the unsatisfactory work of the government. The reasons are the low standard of life and the low individual’s self-appraisal.

The Baltic Data House survey on the factors promoting the political participation in Latvia shows that only every sixth resident of Latvia believes that he/she can influence the decisions taken by the government and is ready to protest against the unsatisfactory work of the government. The reasons are the low standard of life and the low individuals self-appraisal. Diena