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

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Skele during their weekly Wednesday meeting agreed that after the Latvian Soldiers Commemoration day was moved from March 16 to November 11, March 16 is a commemoration day only for individual people and their families.

President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Prime Minister Andris Skele during their weekly Wednesday meeting agreed that after the Latvian Soldiers Commemoration day was moved from March 16 to November 11, March 16 is a commemoration day only for individual people and their families. Respublika, Panorama Latvii

Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins thinks that there is no ground for the publications on the eve of March 16 in foreign newspapers as the government and the parliament have done everything so that there was no reason to reproach Latvia. The parliament abolished March 16 as an official commemoration day. “We condemn the crimes that were committed during the WW2 and our position is not different from that of the EU countries and the US.

Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins thinks that there is no ground for the publications on the eve of March 16 in foreign newspapers as the government and the parliament have done everything so that there was no reason to reproach Latvia. The parliament abolished March 16 as an official commemoration day. We condemn the crimes that were committed during the WW2 and our position is not different from that of the EU countries and the US. Respublika, Diena, Panorama Latvii

After the project prepared by the Interior Ministry and confirmed by the government the new machine-readable passports for Latvian citizens will be made without spending the state budget money. The winner of the tender for making the passports will have to make part of the passports in advance and the money will be earned back at issuing the passports to citizens. Interior Ministry plans that this year the first lot of 250,000 passports should be ready.

After the project prepared by the Interior Ministry and confirmed by the government the new machine-readable passports for Latvian citizens will be made without spending the state budget money. The winner of the tender for making the passports will have to make part of the passports in advance and the money will be earned back at issuing the passports to citizens. Interior Ministry plans that this year the first lot of 250,000 passports should be ready. Diena

Ministry of Education and Science had the regular Russian language contest for Russian as the foreign language.

Ministry of Education and Science had the regular Russian language contest for Russian as the foreign language. Jauna Avize, Panorama Latvii

Vladimir Putin in his answer to the US Congress who had expressed its concern about the signs of anti-Semitism and religious intolerance in Russia, asked the congressmen to pay attention to the countries “where along with tolerance to the fomer Nazis anti-fascist veterans are being prosecuted”.

Vladimir Putin in his answer to the US Congress who had expressed its concern about the signs of anti-Semitism and religious intolerance in Russia, asked the congressmen to pay attention to the countries where along with tolerance to the fomer Nazis anti-fascist veterans are being prosecuted. Vesti

Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins hopes that Russia will show understanding and only then decide the issue of introducing sanctions against Latvia. Berzins noted that by sanctions Russia will first of all harm the Russian population in Latvia.

Latvian Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins hopes that Russia will show understanding and only then decide the issue of introducing sanctions against Latvia. Berzins noted that by sanctions Russia will first of all harm the Russian population in Latvia. Chas

Saeima’s Foreign Commission will convene on March 21for a meeting to discuss Latvia’s strategy after the presidential elections in Russia. Also, the commission wants to find out what international agreements will be violated if Russia introduces the economic sanctions.

Saeimas Foreign Commission will convene on March 21for a meeting to discuss Latvias strategy after the presidential elections in Russia. Also, the commission wants to find out what international agreements will be violated if Russia introduces the economic sanctions. Chas