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 Report

Press Report

Yesterday the Government received a draft decree of the Minister of Economics Makarovs about proposing E.Jansons for the post of the Director General of the Privatisation Agency. Thus the Minister has rejected the proposal of Latvijas Cels to keep the present Director J.Naglis. Naglis’s term ends on March 15, but the Government has to decide on the next candidate already today. Neatkariga, Diena

Yesterday the Government received a draft decree of the Minister of Economics Makarovs about proposing E.Jansons for the post of the Director General of the Privatisation Agency. Thus the Minister has rejected the proposal of Latvijas Cels to keep the present Director J.Naglis. Nagliss term ends on March 15, but the Government has to decide on the next candidate already today. Neatkariga, Diena

Social Democrats are considering a possibility to express distrust towards the Finance Minister E.Krastins, but they will take the decision after consultations with the other opposition factions. Neatkariga

Social Democrats are considering a possibility to express distrust towards the Finance Minister E.Krastins, but they will take the decision after consultations with the other opposition factions. Neatkariga

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins during the meeting with the USA Deputy State Secretary S.Talbout discussed the questions of NATO expansion and bilateral relations of both countries. Neatkariga

Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs I.Berzins during the meeting with the USA Deputy State Secretary S.Talbout discussed the questions of NATO expansion and bilateral relations of both countries. Neatkariga

The left parties block and Social Democrats will address the Constitutional Court to repeal the restriction of election right at municipal elections for former KGB officers and members of banned organisations. They find this restriction anti-constitutional. 23 deputies of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia and Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party signed two applications and plan to submit them to the Satversme Court on Wednesday

The left parties block and Social Democrats will address the Constitutional Court to repeal the restriction of election right at municipal elections for former KGB officers and members of banned organisations. They find this restriction anti-constitutional. 23 deputies of the Saeima faction For Human Rights in United Latvia and Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party signed two applications and plan to submit them to the Satversme Court on Wednesday. Neatkariga, Respublika, Chas

The Acting Head of the DCMA M.Bicevskis informed that soon an international tender would be announced on printing the new Latvian citizen passports. They will be only a travel document, and the deadline for starting issuing them is January 1, 2001. For internal use ID cards will be prepared. According to calculations, printing and issuing of the new passports could cost about 3,5 million LVL. People will have to pay 10 LVL for the new document, but the Government has not assigned money for the new passports, therefore expenses could be covered by this state fee. Diena

The Acting Head of the DCMA M.Bicevskis informed that soon an international tender would be announced on printing the new Latvian citizen passports. They will be only a travel document, and the deadline for starting issuing them is January 1, 2001. For internal use ID cards will be prepared. According to calculations, printing and issuing of the new passports could cost about 3,5 million LVL. People will have to pay 10 LVL for the new document, but the Government has not assigned money for the new passports, therefore expenses could be covered by this state fee. Diena

In the nearest future the DCMA officials will start visiting at home those old age and disabled persons who are not capable to go to the DCMA offices to submit their documents for exchanging their former USSR passports. The Government has assigned more than 3000 LVL for this purpose. So far about 10% non-citizens have not expressed a wish to exchange their passports. In December 5000 applications were received, but his year only 1700. By March 31 the number of people who would not have submitted an application could be about 35 000. Still M.Bicevskis does not think that the term should be prolonged.

In the nearest future the DCMA officials will start visiting at home those old age and disabled persons who are not capable to go to the DCMA offices to submit their documents for exchanging their former USSR passports. The Government has assigned more than 3000 LVL for this purpose. So far about 10% non-citizens have not expressed a wish to exchange their passports. In December 5000 applications were received, but his year only 1700. By March 31 the number of people who would not have submitted an application could be about 35 000. Still M.Bicevskis does not think that the term should be prolonged. Diena, Lauku Avize , Respublika, Chas, Panorama Latvii

Latvijas Vestnesis

published the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers On action that could further the exchange of former USSR passports hold by Latvian non-citizen for Latvian non-citizen passports charging the Minister of Interior M.Seglins to address local governments to assist their non-citizens in exchanging their passports, the Finance Ministry to assign money to the Interior Ministry to ensure that the DCMA officials could visit those non-citizens who are not able to go to DCMA offices. published the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers “On action that could further the exchange of former USSR passports hold by Latvian non-citizen for Latvian non-citizen passports” charging the Minister of Interior M.Seglins to address local governments to assist their non-citizens in exchanging their passports, the Finance Ministry to assign money to the Interior Ministry to ensure that the DCMA officials could visit those non-citizens who are not able to go to DCMA offices. Yesterday at the sitting of the Commission on European Affairs an opinion was voiced that in the current year Latvia would not receive financing from EU in the framework of pre-structural funds of PHARE, SAPARD and ISPA. The main reason for this was the low quality of projects.

Yesterday at the sitting of the Commission on European Affairs an opinion was voiced that in the current year Latvia would not receive financing from EU in the framework of pre-structural funds of PHARE, SAPARD and ISPA. The main reason for this was the low quality of projects. Respublika

The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers supported the draft decree of the Government on resigning from the temporary agreement between the Governments of Latvia and Russia on simplifying the border crossing procedure between those two countries for the residents of border areas.

The Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers supported the draft decree of the Government on resigning from the temporary agreement between the Governments of Latvia and Russia on simplifying the border crossing procedure between those two countries for the residents of border areas. Panorama Latvii

Daugavpils Section of Russian Community in Latvia are considering a possibility to organise a picket to demand for Russian children a possibility to receive education in their mother tongue.

Daugavpils Section of Russian Community in Latvia are considering a possibility to organise a picket to demand for Russian children a possibility to receive education in their mother tongue. Panorama Latvii

N.Bindyukov, member of the Russian National Council Commission on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots told

N.Bindyukov, member of the Russian National Council Commission on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots told Panorama Latvii about the situation with the draft law on imposing sanctions against Latvia. The Commission found the draft law almost ready and forwarded it to the Council for consideration.