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 marching of the former Latvian legionnaires passed without serious incidents. The State President and the government did not observe this commemoration day, but several deputies from the For Fatherland and Freedom and the People’s Party took part in the marching. The Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans commenting the participation of the politicians in the marching of the former legionnaires said that “one can only amaze the wish of these politicians to show to stand out against the tragic destiny of many people.” The State President Guntis Ulmanis said that after the emotions abate the historian commission will need to assess the situation and the Saeima sooner or later will have to return to the issue of the 16th of March. Yesterday the Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs met with the foreign journalists to explain the governmental position on this date. The Russian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs commented this marching as the attempt to rehabilitate the fascism. The Latvian MFA believes that Russia does not understand the situation in Latvia.

Yesterday the marching of the former Latvian legionnaires passed without serious incidents. The State President and the government did not observe this commemoration day, but several deputies from the For Fatherland and Freedom and the Peoples Party took part in the marching. The Prime Minister Vilis Kristopans commenting the participation of the politicians in the marching of the former legionnaires said that one can only amaze the wish of these politicians to show to stand out against the tragic destiny of many people. The State President Guntis Ulmanis said that after the emotions abate the historian commission will need to assess the situation and the Saeima sooner or later will have to return to the issue of the 16th of March. Yesterday the Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs met with the foreign journalists to explain the governmental position on this date. The Russian Ministry of the Foreign Affairs commented this marching as the attempt to rehabilitate the fascism. The Latvian MFA believes that Russia does not understand the situation in Latvia. B&B publishes the full text of the statement by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dienainforms that the information distributed by the Russian Television companies about the 16th of March events in Latvia, in general, was proper. According to the information provided by the Riga City Central Police Department Press Centre, the Police detained two persons – one was holding the poster praising Hitler, the other was drunk and tried to cause disorder. The picketing organised by the Russian Society to protest against the marching of the legionnaires ended without any serious incidents, except for the attempt to send on air the picture of Y. Stalin by the members of the radical organisations. The Chair of the Russian Society G. Astahov called it the provocation of the national-Bolsheviks. Chaspublishes the opinion of the Russian MFA, Russian Duma, the Centre of Simon Vizental, and the Latvian Prime Minister about this date.

Chas, commenting yesterdays events, argues that the marching of the former legionnaires was met with surprising indifference. According to CHAS, this year the world community reacted on these events rather indifferent.

Dienainforms that the 16th of March commemoration events in other cities of Latvia passed without incidents. Chas, B&B

Commenting the Saeima’s decision to declare the 16th of March as the commemoration day of the Latvian Legion, journalist Anna Stroj asks whether the society in which some observe the 16th of March, while others – the 9th of May, is able to integrate. She supports the idea of assessing the events of the WWII from the point of view of democratic and liberal values and finding “the third hero” – “the soldiers in own uniforms”- members of the Central Council of Latvia.

Commenting the Saeimas decision to declare the 16th of March as the commemoration day of the Latvian Legion, journalist Anna Stroj asks whether the society in which some observe the 16th of March, while others – the 9th of May, is able to integrate. She supports the idea of assessing the events of the WWII from the point of view of democratic and liberal values and finding the third hero – the soldiers in own uniforms- members of the Central Council of Latvia. Diena

It is planned that starting 6 April every evening from 9 p.m. the 2nd channel of the Latvian Television will present the so-called integration column in which the broadcasts in the Russian language will be shown, the Latvian TV broadcast director Arvids Babris informed

It is planned that starting 6 April every evening from 9 p.m. the 2nd channel of the Latvian Television will present the so-called integration column in which the broadcasts in the Russian language will be shown, the Latvian TV broadcast director Arvids Babris informed Diena.

Chas journalist Leonid Fedoseev states that by presenting the draft document of the state program on the social integration in Latvia, the government asks non-Latvians to believe that the government really wishes the integration, not the assimilation. What Mr. Fedoseev sees is the old assimilative programs in the new wrapping. Furthermore, Mr. Fedoseev states that it is difficult to trust the Latvian politicians who have all the time lied to the non-Latvians. Chas

The co-ordinator of the national integration program Russians of the West Dmitry Nikolaev comments the draft framework document of the state program on the Social Integration in Latvia. According to Mr. Nikolaev, in the introduction the priority of the individual, his rights against the state is emphasised. Unfortunately, in the further chapters the issue of the individual as the subject and the object of integration is replaced by the needs of the state. Mr. Nikolaev argues that the content analysis allows him to conclude that this “intellectual product reflects the egocentrism of the state and the Latvian nation.” The aim of the interethnic integration declared by the program is to overcome the alienation from the values of the Latvian culture. The loyalty of the individual towards the state is declared as the main motivation of its behaviour in the society and its relations with the state. Regardless of the fact that the program emphasises importance of the non-governmental organisations in relations between the state and the society, the state has already determined the partners in the dialogue with the society.

The co-ordinator of the national integration program Russians of the West Dmitry Nikolaev comments the draft framework document of the state program on the Social Integration in Latvia. According to Mr. Nikolaev, in the introduction the priority of the individual, his rights against the state is emphasised. Unfortunately, in the further chapters the issue of the individual as the subject and the object of integration is replaced by the needs of the state. Mr. Nikolaev argues that the content analysis allows him to conclude that this intellectual product reflects the egocentrism of the state and the Latvian nation. The aim of the interethnic integration declared by the program is to overcome the alienation from the values of the Latvian culture. The loyalty of the individual towards the state is declared as the main motivation of its behaviour in the society and its relations with the state. Regardless of the fact that the program emphasises importance of the non-governmental organisations in relations between the state and the society, the state has already determined the partners in the dialogue with the society. Diena in Russian

The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs believes that the resignation of the European Commission may have the negative impact on the Latvia’s efforts to join the EU.

The Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Valdis Birkavs believes that the resignation of the European Commission may have the negative impact on the Latvias efforts to join the EU. B&B, Diena

The Cabinet of Ministers postponed the issue of nomination of the former Latvian Ambassador in Denmark Gvido Zamribo to the post of the Latvian governmental representative in international human rights institutions. The Coalition Council will be asked to assess whether the former activities of Mr. Zemribo as the Chairman of the Supreme Court might cause him problems in the new office.

The Cabinet of Ministers postponed the issue of nomination of the former Latvian Ambassador in Denmark Gvido Zamribo to the post of the Latvian governmental representative in international human rights institutions. The Coalition Council will be asked to assess whether the former activities of Mr. Zemribo as the Chairman of the Supreme Court might cause him problems in the new office. Diena

BIZNES&BALTIYA; publishes the story of Marina Krecu whose deportation order issued by the DCMA was annulled by the Riga City Centre court decision.

BIZNES&BALTIYA publishes the story of Marina Krecu whose deportation order issued by the DCMA was annulled by the Riga City Centre court decision.