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

News No 1 in all Latvian newspapers - Prime Minister V.Kristopans fires the Minister of Economics - A.Slesers. It was announced yesterday that the Prime Minister wo ask A.Slesers to resign and the

News No 1 in all Latvian newspapers - Prime Minister V.Kristopans fires the Minister of Economics - A.Slesers. It was announced yesterday that the Prime Minister wo ask A.Slesers to resign and the New Party to nominate a new candidate for this post. The main argument for such a decision was lack of professionalism of this minister. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize,Lauku Avize , SM, Chas , Bizness & Baltiya, Panorama Latvii

On Wednesday negotiations will start between Latvian and Russian intergovernmental commission working groups on social and humanitarian issues. Experts plan to start working on agreement on co-operation in the field of social welfare. This agreement has been discussed for almost three years. The draft agreement has bee prepared, and there are hopes that they could discuss the final version of this draft. Latvia would like to discuss the agreements on labour movement and health care, but Russia plans to speak about naturalisation issues and problems of military pensioners residing in Latvia.

On Wednesday negotiations will start between Latvian and Russian intergovernmental commission working groups on social and humanitarian issues. Experts plan to start working on agreement on co-operation in the field of social welfare. This agreement has been discussed for almost three years. The draft agreement has bee prepared, and there are hopes that they could discuss the final version of this draft. Latvia would like to discuss the agreements on labour movement and health care, but Russia plans to speak about naturalisation issues and problems of military pensioners residing in Latvia. Neatkariga

The Chairman of

The Chairman of Peoples Party A.Skele officially announced that Peoples Party had started presidential election campaign and stated that their candidate V.Paegle and TB/LNNK candidate J.Priedkalns were the most appropriate for this post. Neatkariga, Diena, SM, Bizness & Baltiya

Prime Minister V.Kristopans has made up his mind to invite 4 state ministers to the government. Evidently plenary session he will offer the Saeima to confirm as the Forestry State Minister G.Kaktins from

Prime Minister V.Kristopans has made up his mind to invite 4 state ministers to the government. Evidently plenary session he will offer the Saeima to confirm as the Forestry State Minister G.Kaktins from Union of Latvian Social Democrats, as the Higher Education State Minister - T.Koke from Peoples Party, as Health Care State Minister - V.Jaksons from TB/LNNK and as the Minister of Special Portfolio - J.Bunkss from Latvijas Cels on Thursday. Neatkariga, Diena, Jauna Avize

The TB/LNNK Saeima faction A.Pozarnovs informed that the TB/LNNK faction deputies and ministers were to submit proposals for co-operation agreement with the

The TB/LNNK Saeima faction A.Pozarnovs informed that the TB/LNNK faction deputies and ministers were to submit proposals for co-operation agreement with the Union of Latvian Social Democrats within one week, as well as to evaluate the conformity of this document to the party program, coalition agreement and government declaration. Neatkariga

The leaders of government forming coalition parties consider that the latest announcements, made by

The leaders of government forming coalition parties consider that the latest announcements, made by Peoples Party leaders, about a possibility for some position deputies to join the opposition leaders, should be linked with the oppositions wish to destabilize the governing coalition. Neatkariga

Yesterday the first 14 non-citizens children born after August 21, 1991 were granted citizenship. Since the amendments to the Law on Citizenship took effect in February this year, only 98 persons have submitted a request for granting citizenship to their children.

Yesterday the first 14 non-citizens children born after August 21, 1991 were granted citizenship. Since the amendments to the Law on Citizenship took effect in February this year, only 98 persons have submitted a request for granting citizenship to their children. Neatkariga, Diena

K.Yevlogin in

K.Yevlogin in SM ponders on two modern terms - convergence and integration. Present Latvian leaders have mixed up those terms and by integration they just understand a very simple process - turning everything starting from teaching in schools to all record keeping and private communications into the Latvian language, and everybody would be loyal. He describes the situation of Russian speakers living in Latvia, they are not wanted here and they feel aliens in Russia. And the thing what is needed for many of them (even Russian speaking citizens of Latvia, is convergence, not integration. SM

The faction

The faction For Human Rights in United Latvia deputy J.Urbanovich, commenting the information spread in some mass media that this faction was ready to co-operate with Peoples Party, said that it was as shocking for them as it was for the governing coalition. But FHRUL understands that any of their attempts to join the coalition would fail, but nobody can stop them from so called selection of the government - to minimize the number of nationalist radicals there. Panorama Latvii