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 Russian Party Jabloko will vote against the draft law on the economic sanctions against Latvia, since does not support such measures, representatives of the Party V. Averchev and B. Moiseev who were on one day visit to Latvia, told journalists yesterday. Speaking about the party’s position concerning the situation of Russian countrymen residing in Latvia, both guests stated that the Jabloko opinion coincides with the assessments of the international experts.

The Russian Party Jabloko will vote against the draft law on the economic sanctions against Latvia, since does not support such measures, representatives of the Party V. Averchev and B. Moiseev who were on one day visit to Latvia, told journalists yesterday. Speaking about the partys position concerning the situation of Russian countrymen residing in Latvia, both guests stated that the Jabloko opinion coincides with the assessments of the international experts.

Yesterday at the meeting with the Saeima deputies the Russian representatives reproached Latvia for its failure to fulfil several recommendations by the international institutions concerning the national minorities and human rights issues. Mr, Averchev said that the granting to the non-citizens the rights to participate in the municipal elections would be an important step towards the social integration of Latvia, and improvement of the relations with Russia. He emphasised that all residents of Latvia should know the Latvian language, but the state should allow peoples to develop their national culture.

Yesterday at the meeting with the Saeima deputies the Russian representatives reproached Latvia for its failure to fulfil several recommendations by the international institutions concerning the national minorities and human rights issues. Mr, Averchev said that the granting to the non-citizens the rights to participate in the municipal elections would be an important step towards the social integration of Latvia, and improvement of the relations with Russia. He emphasised that all residents of Latvia should know the Latvian language, but the state should allow peoples to develop their national culture.

Neatkarigacomments that for some unclear reasons the press conference with the Russian deputies in the Saeima was conducted in the Russian language without the translations into the Latvian language. Diena, Chas, Neatkariga

In the interview for the B&B;, Mr. Averchev states that the matter of the admission of the new countries into the NATO is neither bureaucratic nor technical problem, but the evaluation of each country according to the real situation there. The report of the Council of Europe about Latvian is very critical, so is the OSCE assessment of the Law on State Language. According to Mr. Averchev, such Latvia does not associate with the system of European values. That, however, is the matter of Latvia’s internal development.

In the interview for the B&B, Mr. Averchev states that the matter of the admission of the new countries into the NATO is neither bureaucratic nor technical problem, but the evaluation of each country according to the real situation there. The report of the Council of Europe about Latvian is very critical, so is the OSCE assessment of the Law on State Language. According to Mr. Averchev, such Latvia does not associate with the system of European values. That, however, is the matter of Latvias internal development.

Mr. Averchev reminds that neither NATO nor the USA will risk the relations with Russia because of the Baltics. B&B;

Mr. Averchev reminds that neither NATO nor the USA will risk the relations with Russia because of the Baltics. B&B

Dienainforms that on 14 and 15 May in St. Petersburg the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Baltic States, Scandinavian countries as well as Russia will meet to discuss the EU strategy in relations with Russia, the perspectives of the regional co-operation and the European security issues.

SM publishes the article about a court case against the DCMA on the issue of the distorted family name. Mr and Mrs. Rittiny sued the DCMA for having issued the passports with the Latvianized family name Ritini.

SM publishes an open letter of a non-citizen Ms. N. Palkova to the State President and the Saeima deputies in which she claims that due to the Latvian legislation her 82 years old mother who is the Russian citizen and resides in Russia, has not been issued residence permit to stay in Latvian with the relatives for more than 1 year. In March of the last year she had sent the letters to the Saeima Standing Committee on Human Rights, the OSCE Mission to Latvia and National Human Rights Office, asking to pay attention to the need to amend the appropriate laws. Unfortunately, she had not received any reply. SM