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 representatives of government forming factions consider that Prime Minister A.Skele should change his attitude towards his coalition partners. Otherwise the relations in the government could get worse. TB/LNNK Saeima faction Chairman A.Pozarnovs said that if the Prime Minister had undertaken solving issues which were in the competence of the government forming factions, he should not hope that all the decisions of mandatory vote at the Saeima would be supported.

The representatives of government forming factions consider that Prime Minister A.Skele should change his attitude towards his coalition partners. Otherwise the relations in the government could get worse. TB/LNNK Saeima faction Chairman A.Pozarnovs said that if the Prime Minister had undertaken solving issues which were in the competence of the government forming factions, he should not hope that all the decisions of mandatory vote at the Saeima would be supported. Neatkariga

In an interview to the Latvian Radio President Vaira Vike-Freiberga expressed her willingness to be involved in a dialogue with Russia, but she doubted Russia’s readiness for such a dialogue.

In an interview to the Latvian Radio President Vaira Vike-Freiberga expressed her willingness to be involved in a dialogue with Russia, but she doubted Russias readiness for such a dialogue. Neatkariga

According to the data of the public opinion research centre SKDS, large part of population - 31.8% do not agree with the statement that Skele’s government would last until the end of 7 th Saeima.

According to the data of the public opinion research centre SKDS, large part of population - 31.8% do not agree with the statement that Skeles government would last until the end of 7 th Saeima. Neatkariga, Chas

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga considers that the Latvian language law should be adopted with her proposed amendments otherwise Latvia would face serious difficulties at the next EU summit meeting in Helsinki.

President Vaira Vike-Freiberga considers that the Latvian language law should be adopted with her proposed amendments otherwise Latvia would face serious difficulties at the next EU summit meeting in Helsinki. Neatkariga

The Saeima

The Saeima Social Democrats faction are preparing to summon an extraordinary Saeima sitting let the Parliament would be granted a right to take decisions on privatisation of large state enterprises - Latvian Shipping Company, Latvijas Gaze, Latvenergo, Lattelekom, etc. Neatkariga

Latvian President thinks that the government should take care of its stability because now, before the EU summit meeting in Helsinki, the processes in Latvia are closely observed by European community.

Latvian President thinks that the government should take care of its stability because now, before the EU summit meeting in Helsinki, the processes in Latvia are closely observed by European community. Neatkariga

Latvijas Cels

Press Secretary D.Gulbe informed Press Secretary D.Gulbe informed DienaDiena that LC had prepared and would submit this week to the coalition members proposals on new amendments to the pension law that would allow women to retire before the fixed age of retirement and improve the situation of working pensioners. that LC had prepared and would submit this week to the coalition members proposals on new amendments to the pension law that would allow women to retire before the fixed age of retirement and improve the situation of working pensioners. DienaDiena

On Monday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported submitting of Latvian - Lithuanian sea border agreement to the Saeima in the first reading. There is no full conviction about the ratification of the agreement because two of the ruling coalition factions -

On Monday the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission supported submitting of Latvian - Lithuanian sea border agreement to the Saeima in the first reading. There is no full conviction about the ratification of the agreement because two of the ruling coalition factions - Peoples Party and TB/LNNK plan to discuss this at their faction meetings and take a united opinion. Experts of several economic fields doubt the conformity of this agreement with interests of Latvia because Latvia would loose a huge part of possible oil fields and territories for fishing cod. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Yelena and Sergey - the grandchildren of 62 years old T.Talkovska, were born in Latvia, attend the local Latvian school, but their life has become very complicated due to absence of proper documents they were almost sent to an orphanage in Russia. Children’s family moved to Russia in 1993. Soon after the father died in a car accident but mother started drinking and 1996 Ms. Talkovska received a message from Russia that she should go there and take the children if she did not want them to be sent to an orphanage because their mother would be deprived of her parental rights. And the grandmother brought the children to Latvia without drawing up the necessary documents.

Yelena and Sergey - the grandchildren of 62 years old T.Talkovska, were born in Latvia, attend the local Latvian school, but their life has become very complicated due to absence of proper documents they were almost sent to an orphanage in Russia. Childrens family moved to Russia in 1993. Soon after the father died in a car accident but mother started drinking and 1996 Ms. Talkovska received a message from Russia that she should go there and take the children if she did not want them to be sent to an orphanage because their mother would be deprived of her parental rights. And the grandmother brought the children to Latvia without drawing up the necessary documents. Diena

A journalist interviews TV star I.Vinik about the problem why Russians here in Latvia can not unite. Ms.Vinnik thinks that there are no such thing as Russians in Latvia - just Russian speakers, persons who do not know anything about Russian culture.

A journalist interviews TV star I.Vinik about the problem why Russians here in Latvia can not unite. Ms.Vinnik thinks that there are no such thing as Russians in Latvia - just Russian speakers, persons who do not know anything about Russian culture. Chas

The deputy Head of the Naturalisation Board J.Kahanovics informs about the current situation with the naturalisation process.

The deputy Head of the Naturalisation Board J.Kahanovics informs about the current situation with the naturalisation process. Panorama Latvii

A.Krumins writes about the meeting of the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Law on Citizenship during which were considered amendments to the status of a non-citizen. “ Of course, there was no discussion on equalising the rights of “Negroes” with the ones of citizens”, states Mr.Krumins. The aim of the amendments was to decrease the number of non-citizens, e.g. by introducing a norm that the status of a non-citizen would lose not only persons who had served in foreign armed forces on the territory of the Republic of Latvia and were demobilised after January 28, 1992 but their family members as well. The same refers to persons who have received compensation from the Latvian state for leaving the country but do to some reason had not left it, as well as those who have left the territory of Latvia after July 1, 1992 for abroad and got a domicile registration there but returned to Latvia. The same refers to persons who served in foreign armed forces after July 1, 1992.

A.Krumins writes about the meeting of the Saeima Commission on Implementation of the Law on Citizenship during which were considered amendments to the status of a non-citizen. Of course, there was no discussion on equalising the rights of Negroes with the ones of citizens, states Mr.Krumins. The aim of the amendments was to decrease the number of non-citizens, e.g. by introducing a norm that the status of a non-citizen would lose not only persons who had served in foreign armed forces on the territory of the Republic of Latvia and were demobilised after January 28, 1992 but their family members as well. The same refers to persons who have received compensation from the Latvian state for leaving the country but do to some reason had not left it, as well as those who have left the territory of Latvia after July 1, 1992 for abroad and got a domicile registration there but returned to Latvia. The same refers to persons who served in foreign armed forces after July 1, 1992. Panorama Latvii